Blake Moore

Blake A. Moore, 28, of Robinson, IL, formerly of Palestine, passed away on June 29, 2025. He was born on November 8, 1996, in Taylorville, IL, and raised in Palestine, where sports quickly became his outlet. Whether it was football, basketball, or baseball, he had a natural intensity that matched his competitive spirit. He played hard, talked a little smack, and never liked to lose. His loyalty ran deep—Colts on Sundays, Lakers on the hardwood, and the Cubs come summertime. Blake attended Palestine High School and went on to work hard wherever he landed. Most recently, he was a team leader at Toyota Boshoku in Lawrenceville, where he helped build seats for Toyota Highlanders. He was highly respected there—not just because he was good at what he did, but because he led with both grit and heart.

This should come as no surprise. If you knew Blake, you knew this: he felt big. His affection, his laugh, his fierce love—none of it was halfway. He could be stubborn (in fact, he usually was). If you told him he was wrong, you’d better buckle up: it was always Blake’s way or the highway. But the funny thing was, even in that strong-headedness, people loved him for it. Because it wasn’t arrogance. It was conviction. It was fire. It was Blake. And that same fire burned in the way he loved. He didn’t express it with grand gifts or dramatic gestures. He showed it with presence—with words, with hugs, with late-night check-ins and unspoken sacrifices. If he thought you needed something, he’d give it—even if he didn’t really have it to spare. That was just Blake.

It was that same kind of love that first drew Melissa in. She asked him for a ride home from a Halloween party, and neither of them could’ve known that simple request would become the beginning of everything. From that night forward, they were each other’s constant. They married on July 17, 2024, and built a life grounded in love, laughter, and the sacred chaos of raising two little girls. Raylynn JoLee and Reeslynn Lucille were Blake’s world. His joy. His reason. They brought out the best in him. He played with them like a kid himself—coloring, playing hide and seek, laughing loud and often. When his oldest started T-ball, it was like two of Blake’s great loves—fatherhood and sports—had finally met. And he lit up.

It was moments like those that filled him up. Because for all his fire and competitive drive, Blake didn’t need crowds or accolades. He was a homebody at heart. If he wasn’t outside tossing a football or shooting hoops, he was happiest just being home—with his girls, with Melissa, with the simple joy of being surrounded by the ones he loved. A ball, a backyard, and his people. That was Blake’s idea of peace.

While the ache of his absence is deep, so is the imprint he left behind. Because Blake loved in a way that stays.

He leaves behind so many who will carry his memory forward: his wife, Melissa Moore; his daughters, Raylynn JoLee and Reeslynn Lucille; his grandmother, Jane Moore; his parents, Brian Edwards and Jaime Moore; and his siblings, Brett, Bradley, Brittany, Brianna, Braiden, and Conner. He is also remembered by several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Randy Moore and Art Edwards.

A time of visitation will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 14th, at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m., with Pastor Jeremiah Patterson, Sr., officiating. Family and friends will be invited to share their memories during the service. Burial will be in the Palestine Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to his memorial fund, with checks payable to “Goodwine Funeral Homes.” Donations may also be made online at www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/payments.