Melba T. Moore

Melba Josie Mae Taylor Moore was born in Hurst, Texas, on Christmas Day, 1918 to Eula Mae and Joe Taylor. She passed away Monday, June 16, 2008 after a very full and blessed life. She graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas. She worked in downtown Dallas for Oil Well Supply Co. during the Texas oil boom. While working there, she met a handsome engineer named John Ewing Moore, and they dated until he had to report to the Army. After he returned from the Pacific, they were married on April 6, 1945 by Dr. W. A. Criswell at First Baptist Church in Dallas. John and Melba moved to Baytown within a couple of years to work for Humble Oil Co. After her children John and Martha were teenagers, she again joined the workforce and helped establish Sterling High School with Mrs. Winnie Brown and her staff. Even after retiring, she continued to get together regularly with her Sterling friends whom she loved dearly. She treasured her many friendships from her active membership of the Baytown P.E.O. and the Woman's Club. She was unselfishly devoted to her husband John during his extended years with Alzheimer's disease.

Melba loved and tirelessly supported Memorial Baptist Church and especially her beloved Sunday School class. Her faith, family, and friends were the essence of her life. Her constant encouragement and optimistic outlook on life were based on her enduring faith in Jesus Christ. Her family and many dear friends will miss this cherished lady tremendously.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband of 57 years and is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, John and Vicki Moore of Baytown; daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Chris Burditt of Fort Worth; brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Alice Taylor of Flat Rock, NC; grandchildren, David, Jonathan, and Bryce Burditt, Felicia Thomas and husband Dan, Shay Erwin and husband Kenneth and Brad Rogers and wife Francis; and great grandchildren, Brianne and Megan Cordova, Skylar and Dan Creek Thomas and Kyle Erwin.

Serving as pallbearers will be David, Jonathan, and Bryce Burditt, Brad Rogers, Dan Thomas, and Kenneth Erwin.

Her family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Memorial Baptist Church chapel with Rev. Brad Hoffmann officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

In lieu of usual remembrances, contributions may be made to Memorial Baptist Church, 600 W. Sterling Ave., Baytown, TX 77520 or the Baytown Gideons, P. O. Box 723, Baytown, TX 77522.

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook, Baytown, Texas, (281) 422-8111.