Martha Moore

Martha was born near Kilgore, Texas on June 14, 1919. In 1937, she graduated from New London High School, Texas High School (now West Rusk). She was a survivor of the 1937 New London School explosion. She attended Kilgore Junior College and graduated from Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College with a Bachelor of Science in 1941. She met and married her deceased husband, J. Blaine Moore, while a student at SFA.

Martha's career teaching elementary school spanned 31 years. She taught at Herty Elementary and Central Ward Elementary in Lufkin for 8 years. Also, she taught 22 years in the La Porte School System. She taught at La Porte Elementary and Bayshore Elementary.

After retirement, she and Blaine returned to Lufkin. They were active in several organizations including the Autumn Club, Retired Teachers and several travel clubs. They were members of Lufkin's First Baptist Church. Martha taught the Alpha Sunday School for many years. In her retirement years, she traveled extensively in Europe, the Holy Land in Israel, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. She cruised the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, Canada, Hawaii and Alaska.

Martha moved to PineCrest Retirement Community in 1994 and enjoyed many friends and social activities there. She loved to tell stories about her travels, her teaching, and spend time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was affectionately known as "Oma" by her family.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Horace and Era Leath; her husband; and her sister, Evelyn Leath.

She is survived by her children: James B. Moore III of Nacogdoches, Carolyn Moore Faulkner and son-in-law Harry Faulkner of Lufkin, and Carroll L. Moore of Lufkin and his special friend Elizabeth Freedman of Elgin, Texas; her grandchildren, Kevin Faulkner of Lufkin, Russell and Ana Moore of Cushing, Julie and Doug Southern of Jacksonville, and Paul Moore and Jenny Henegan of Austin; and two great-grandsons, John David Southern and Jameson Dean Southern.

The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers at PineCrest Retirement Community for the love and care they provided for our mother. We would also like to thank Nelda Barringer and Odessa Kegler for all that they did to make things easier for Mother and us.

Expressions of sympathy in Mrs. Moore's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, the PineCrest Retirement Community, and/or your favorite charity.

A private interment for the family will be held on Thursday, January 6, 2011 in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.

A memorial service for family and friends of PineCrest Retirement Community will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, January 6, 2010 in the PineCrest Retirement Community Chapel. A reception will follow.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home