Clara Marie Murray Moore

Clara Marie Murray Moore, died Friday, July 23, 2010, at the age of 98 at The Homestead in Sherman, Texas. According to Mrs. Moore's wishes, cremation is under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held Friday, July 30, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Clara was born November 6, 1911, in Galveston, Texas, to Clementine Adele Ramakers Murray and Arthur Sage Murray. She graduated from Handley High School and attended Draughn's Business College. She married Harvey Alan Turner and had one daughter, Bonnie Adele. Clara worked as a legal secretary and at Convair during WWII. After the war, she met and married Alfred Otis Moore in Ft. Worth in 1946. Mr. Moore had two sons, Doug and Don. Together they had another daughter, Mary Ann.

Mr. Moore worked for the Corps of Engineers, which took the family to many different areas. They finally settled in Floresville, Texas. After Mr. Moore's untimely death, Clara went to work as a legal secretary once again. After her youngest daughter graduated, the family moved to San Antonio and Mrs. Moore began her work at Lackland AFB Hospital as a medical transcriber. She retired at the age of 72.

Clara joined the Rainbow Girls as a teen and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a Past Matron of Carpenters' Chapter #183, where she also served in other offices. She was also a member of Bomar Cramer Music Club and the Red Hat Society. She was active at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in San Antonio prior to her move to Sherman in 1988, where she joined Trinity Presbyterian Church (now Covenant Presbyterian). Her faith remained strong to the end. In spite of her blindness, her cancer and her COPD, she kept a very positive attitude and thanked God every day for her good life. One of her favorite sayings was ?It's a great life if you don't weaken?!

Clara was an avid reader and, while living in Del Rio, was the story reader in a local library. She also loved to knit. In her 60's, Mrs. Moore took an electronics course and became an amateur radio operator. Her call sign was WD5GSP. She was so very proud to be a HAM. She was still licensed at the time of her death. Just prior to the radio operator's license, she also took an auto mechanics course so that she could know about her own vehicle.

After being diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, she pursued other interests, such as lapidary and oil painting until she could no longer see to paint. She loved nature, especially birds and cats and had many special cats through the years. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

Clara was preceded in death by Mr. Turner and Mr. Moore and by her two sons, Wayne Douglas Moore and James Donald Moore, her three brothers: Arthur, Clement, and Charles Murray. She is survived by daughter, Bonnie Adele Vernor and husband, Bill, of Comfort, and daughter, Mary Ann Dunavan and husband, Robert, of Sherman, daughter-in-law, Robbie Moore, of Houston; grandchildren: Donna Cherry (Alan) and Ginger Collins (Michael) of Houston; Rob Saenz Dunavan (Becky) of Garland; Kim Vernor Lyne (Randy) of San Antonio; Robert Dunavan, Jr. (Cherrie) of Flower Mound; Patty Dunavan Dyer (Bryan) of Missouri; twelve great-grand children and three great-great-grandchildren.

A reception for the family will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church after the memorial service. If desired, memorials may be directed to Grayson County Humane Society or Covenant Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice.