Zadella Moore

The world lost a shining presence and heaven gained an angel, with the passing of our loving mother and grandmother, Zadella Moore, on April 17, 2023, after an eight-year battle with a rare cancer. Zadella was born at home, in Mullin, Texas, on August 22, 1943. She was the eighth child of twelve born to James and Clara Smith, with a very unique first name and very distinctive auburn hair. She graduated from Crane High School in 1962 and married the love of her life, Paul Herman Moore.Zadella and Paul were blessed with a daughter, Shelly Paulene Moore-DeVore, in 1963, and relocated from Texas to Long Beach, California.

Zadella was a devoted wife and stay-at-home mom and slowly adjusted to life in California. She kept herself busy taking care of her family, making new friends, helping neighbors, attending college classes at Long Beach Community College, and getting involved in a local church. She served her congregation and community by driving the Church bus to pick up senior citizens, taking meals to homebound seniors, visiting the sick, feeding the homeless, teaching and overseeing a discipleship program for young girls including (Prims and Missionettes), volunteering for her daughter’s school events and activities, and was a generous philanthropist. She donated her time and money to numerous organizations over the years, while practicing frugality for herself. She loved spending time with her husband and daughter and enjoyed their family vacations and travel and spending time doing what her husband and daughter enjoyed including fishing, camping, going to the beach, old time and new release movies, local amusement shopping for vintage clothing, decorating and celebrating holidays, barbeques, church, music, and so much more.

Zadella was a remarkable wife, mother, and grandmother and was blessed with three beautiful granddaughters, Meghan Ashley DeVore, Katelyn Allyson DeVore, and Kristen Courtney DeVore.

When Zadella and Paul became grandparents, she threw herself into her new role as Mimi/Grandma and was present, supportive, and actively involved in her granddaughter’s lives. As a mother and grandmother, she taught her daughter and granddaughters to be self-reliant, selfless, tenacious, judicious, respectful, giving, forgiving, loving, to fear the Lord, pray, pursue the desires of their hearts in life regarding their educational endeavors, to vote and make a difference, and was elated that all of her granddaughters attended private Christian schools and went on to pursue graduate degrees. She was intelligent, witty, had a wonderful sense of humor, and was an amazing example to everyone she met.

She didn’t hesitate to step up as a caregiver for her mother-in-law when she was placed in a nursing home from the age of 97-99, , cared for her husband, Paul, when he was diagnosed with cancer, and supported and assisted family members and friends experiencing challenging times and loss with her generosity, unwavering faith, and giving spirit. Her faith and relationship with Jesus was unwavering and bared witness to her Lord always to people from all walks of life, without any fear. She knew her calling, which was ministering to others and included daily letter writing using the term Shalom in every letter and card, frequent phone calls to family and friends, remembering family birthdays, holidays, important dates and events, and prayed daily with passion, power, and understanding, read and studied her Bible, attended church, and watched Christian programing on television. She found rest and strength in worship, prayer, singing hymns around the house and listening and singing along to her granddaughter’s favorite pop and country music, reading her Bible, sharing stories and family history, talking with her daughter and granddaughter’s, and sharing her faith with others.

Zadella and Paul were married for 44 years. In 2006, her beloved husband, Paul, passed away and she came to live with her daughter, son-in-law, and three granddaughters, in Southern California. She was present for her daughter, granddaughters, extended family and friends, remained active in church, and continued her philanthropic efforts.At 79 years of age, Zadella’s life was truly a valuable life well lived. She was a beacon of strength, resilience, unwavering humility, and dynamic faith even when faced with hardship and trials. Her life was a remarkable testament of her resilience, strength, perseverance, generosity, compassion, dependability, and commitment and faithfulness to God and her family. Her family was her pride and joy and included her fur babies, Scooby and Gizmo, and shared family cats. She was every animal’s favorite human, and they miss her desperately. While she prayed, read her Bible, and watched Christian television daily, she also loved to discuss politics, current events, religion, watch real crime shows and live trials and court cases, and loved television shows including Monk, Psych, Drop Dead Diva, Law and Order SVU, Lifetime movies, Hallmark, and more. Zadella's favorite bible verse was Number 6: 24-26: "The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Zadella is now reunited with her husband Paul in heaven and is survived by her daughter, Shelly Paulene Moore-DeVore, grand-daughters, Meghan Ashley DeVore, Katelyn Allyson DeVore, and Kristen Courtney DeVore, siblings, sisters-in-law, brothers-in laws, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends.

God looked around his garden.

And found an empty place,

He then looked down upon the earth.

And saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you.

And lifted you to rest.

God’s garden must be beautiful.

He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering.

He knew you were in pain.

He knew that you would never.

Get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough.

And the hills were hard to climb.

So, he closed your weary eyelids.

And whispered, ‘Peace be Thine’.

It broke our hearts to lose you.

But you didn’t go alone,

For part of us went with you

The day God called you home.

Rest in peace, mother dear; We will miss the days when you were near.

Your sweet laughter and bright smiles,That cheered us through life’s miles.

Your memory will be with us always,The love you expressed in big and small ways.

And though we experience pain and loss, We know that through Jesus’ cross,

We will meet once again, Where there will be no more sorrow or pain. In God’s kingdom made new,

We will be forever with you.

Best, Shelly