Berylene “Mamie” Martin Moran went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ, peacefully on Friday morning, January 14, 2022, in her home in Houston, Texas at the age of 90. Mamie was born April 12,1931 in the Ranger General Hospital, Ranger, Texas to Marvin G Martin and Imogene Martin.
When Berylene was in the third grade, her parents moved her and her older sister (Billie Jeanne) to Houston, where they both attended Kashmere Gardens Elementary School, Marshall Junior High School and Jefferson Davis High School. Berylene graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1949. She played on the basketball and tennis teams. At that time, Jeff Davis High was one of only six high schools in the City of Houston.
Berylene attended The University of Houston, where she achieved an Associate Degree in Accounting. She worked at Texa-Company (later to be known as Texaco) as a librarian while attending college.
She met Bob Moran via an introduction by his sister, Dorothy Moran Worthington. She and Dorothy had worked together at Texa-Company. Bob carried her number in his wallet for 8 months before he finally called her. One of their first dates was the football game between Rice University and The University of Texas, played at Rice Stadium, October 27, 1951. Bob’s family company (Moran Brothers) was one of the subcontractors of the new Rice Institute Stadium (with Brown and Root). He wanted to show off his handy work to Berylene. Then, he took her to dinner at the Rice Hotel, where he proposed to her. When the hotel closed in 1977, he purchased one of the dining table lamps from the hotel, as a token of remembrance. It has always been on her bedside table.
They married on March 22, 1952 in Brewster/Peekskill, New York, where Bob and Moran Brothers were the contractors for a large East Coast pipeline, new cityscape, schools and a golf course. Moran Brothers was a major contractor that developed Highway 288, most of the other major highways in Texas and Louisiana (I-10, I-45 included), major lakes in Texas, airstrips for both Houston airports and prominent golf courses in Houston; including River Oaks Country Club, The Houston Country Club, Lakeside Country Club and Pine Forest Country Club. Mamie assisted Bob by supporting the accounting of the company for many years.
They attended Garden Oaks Baptist Church together before they married and throughout their entire marriage of 57 years. At her passing, Berylene was the longest-standing member of Garden Oaks Baptist Church. She joined Garden Oaks Baptist Church on January 6, 1952.
Berylene immersed herself in her Christian duties at Garden Oaks Baptist Church. For more almost 70 years, she voluntarily spearheaded the Hospitality Ministry (which included all food and flowers for funerals, hospital patients and shut-ins). She was also known for her duties and memberships: Sunday School Teacher, Nursery Worker, Children and Youth Camp Counselor and Sponsor, Church Visitor Greeter, Handbell Choir member, The Joy Class (Sunday School Class), Pastor Search Committee, Human Resources Designee, Financial Strategic Planning Team, Money Counter, Church Check Signor, Office Volunteer, Wednesday night Supper Helper, Girls’ Auxiliary & Girls in Action Teacher, Women’s Missionary Union leader, Lottie Moon Christmas Collection team, sewing and tailor fitting curtains, seat cushions, nursery beds and cribs and table clothes (wherever needed). She was widely known for being an amazing cook and always supplied apple, peach, blackberry and coconut cream pies for the church’s fund-raising auction wars. Year after year, her pies were always one of the top sales items.
Berylene and Bob made many contributions to their beloved Garden Oaks Baptist Church (GOBC) through the anonymous college and youth camp funds, the building and development projects for the GOBC sanctuary, school building, Fellowship Hall and Gymnasium expansion. They also assisted the GOBC Bus Ministry, GOBC new mission and area church development (which included many new area churches, such as Forest Cove Baptist Church, Lazybrook Baptist Church, White Oak Baptist Church, and numerous others).
They also made many donations to the International Mission Board, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering through the Southern Baptist Convention and the Women’s Missionary Union of Texas. Other contributions went to: Houston Baptist University, Northwest Academy, Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Arabia Temple, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Lake Forest Ranch (Macon, Mississippi), Peach Creek Encampment, T Bar M Camp Travis and Pine Coves Camps of Texas.
Berylene’s parents had a farm, outside of Houston; where the grandkids could play with horses, cows, and chickens. Berylene acquired her amazing cooking and sewing skills from her mother (Imogene aka Gene aka Poppa, pronounced “PawPaw”). Food was farm-to-table and, during the school year, Saturday mornings were occupied with pancake-eating contests, trips to the corner store for candy and it usually included a trip to the auction house for a new cow, calf or horse. Every Friday night during the school year, Bob and Berylene had a standing date while the kids were enjoying their farm adventure. Then, everyone returned home to get hair washed and the girls’ hair rolled for church, Sunday morning. This experience was the opposite of Bob’s parents estate, where children were seen (clean and starched) and not heard; a true Texas city/farm balance of life.
Mamie and Bob’s favorite hobby was kids! There were countless kids that learned to ski behind the Moran, Trojanowsky, Waddell, Hargrove and Atkinson boats on Lake Travis. They learned to balance on jet skis and wave runners. The motorcycles peppered across the countryside and the trampoline, basketball court and ping pong tables in the backyard in Houston. And, to the delight of all, each adventure began with Mamie’s amazing softball-size homemade biscuits and ended with one of her legendary pies (apple, blackberry, peach or coconut).
Countless times, kids that didn’t have money for camp or money for a sleeping bag would mysteriously find themselves getting on the camp bus with a new sleeping bag or boarding a mission-bound plane with a gift card or note just stating “From a Friend”. Mamie was always proud of how many children came to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior. It was her goal to reach as many people with the Gospel message; whether it was delivered with a new Bible, a new sleeping bag or a slice of apple pie, she was determined to lovingly show God’s love at every possible encounter.
Berylene Martin Moran is survived by her daughter, Terri Moran and her granddaughter Brittany Beazley Kabel; along with Brittany’s husband Don Kabel and their children, Kolton Austin Moran Kabel and Kylie Rachel Kabel, Don’s brother, Todd Kabel and Don’s mother Patricia Kabel.
Berylene is also survived by her son, Bob Douglas Moran, Jr, his wife Nancy Person Moran and their children Meredith and her husband Cade Bernsen (children: Channing, Chappell, Hutton), Amanda and her husband Ryan Whitley (child: Grady) and Klare and her husband Colton Tucker (child: Adaline).
She is also survived by her daughter Melanie Ann Moran Boyd, her husband, Eddy and their children Nathan and his wife Jamie Boyd (children: Gage, Cannon and Gunner), Lauren and Greg Wielgus (child: Aubrey).
She is also survived by her daughter Karla Beth Moran Redmon and her children Kendra and her husband Jason Roller (children: Addison and Everly), Brook and her husband Will Dickison (children: Rett and Quinn) and Blair and her husband, Mike Ary (children: Skylar and Sutton).
Berylene is also survived by her nephews, Ronnie Wagner (his children Jennifer, Drew and Crystal and his ex-wife Janelle Wagner. Terry Brenan and his wife Connie and their children, Stephen Brenan and Ashley Brenan Wilson (children: Brodie Leigh Brenan and Parker Lynn Wilson).
She is also survived by her nephews Billy Moran and his wife Tammy and their daughter, Becca Moran Loomis and her husband, Greg Loomis and her nephew Keith Moran.
She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Janet Moran Steele, her children Richard, Stuart and Nelson Steele and Nelson’s wife, Kimberly.
Berylene is preceded in death by her husband, Bob Douglas Moran, her mother, Imogene Boyd Martin, her father, Marvin G Martin and her sister, Billie Jeanne Martin Brenan.
Berylene’s longtime friend and pastor, Jim Daniels will officiate the services, with Terri Moran, Brittany Kabel, Kolton Kabel and Robert Graham speaking, with a special video message from Jane Walker.
The Pallbearers are: Pat & Cassie Trojanowsky, Kolton Kabel, Don Kabel, Terry Brenan, Jeff Eubanks, Daniel Lanier and Stewart Hirtz.
The Honorary Pallbearers are: Jane Walker, Barbara Dobson, The Joy Class of Garden Oak Baptist Church, Nellie Dawn Evans, Pat & Sharon Taylor, Dee Eubanks, Suzanne Bastable, Stacey Lanier, Christie Cottington, Michelle Maresh, Taryn Sims, Jay & Christi Crocker and Donna Beazley.
SERVICE
Private Interment:
Houston National Cemetery (VA cemetery)
10410 Veterans Memorial Drive
Houston, Texas 77038
Celebration of Life:
Garden Oaks Baptist Church
3206 North Shepherd Drive
Houston, Texas 77018
(713)864-4447
Thursday, January 27
12:00 pm - Visitation at Garden Oaks Baptist Church (in Fellowship Hall)
1:00 pm – Celebration of Berylene Moran Services (in Fellowship Hall)
YouTube Broadcast of service from Garden Oaks Baptist Church channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTrcFyJseteDKZEVOzHpXTg
1:30 pm - Reception to follow (with Mamie's apple pies) (Gymnasium)
SPECIAL THANKS
Terri and Brittany want to extend their special thanks to Mamie’s Joy Class of Garden Oaks Baptist Church. We thank them for their friendship and diligence with one another; keeping them spiritually strong, as they kept Mamie entirely COVID-free throughout the pandemic.
Mamie loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren, her dog Bentley and their four horses. She was a “second mom” to countless friends. She showed her love through her constant acts of kindness, generosity, and feeding thousands of friends over the years.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17
“Iron sharpens iron. So one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14
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