She was born in Houston, Texas on December 11, 1930 to Ted Lewis Stoten and Adeline Josephine Selzer.
Bertie Jo’s careers began in the high school DECA program working at Burroughs and she began raising a family in 1950. In 1974, she enrolled in Bryman’s Nursing School and became a medical assistant working in the medical field until 1981 when she broke her pelvis. This led to her career in child care for the next 26 years beginning with her own child care business and moonlighting as a babysitter at night, then becoming a nanny for many families throughout the Houston area, and finally working at a child care center. From 2007-2009 she became the cheerful, kind greeter at Randall’s on Wilcrest.
She was a proud graduate of Reagan High School (1948), a previous member of the Greater Houston Quilt Guild for many decades and one of the “star” members of HARRA and BCRR running clubs for a decade. In 2001, she created the very exclusive “The Moore To Do Girls” of which only she and Bonnie Jo were members.
Her passions were being a layperson seamstress, hand sewing, quilting, running at Memorial Park and competing in fun runs and club races along with her daughter Bonnie Jo, playing the piano, listening to most any genre music, working crosswords, reading her Bible as well as enjoying mystery and crime fiction books, watching TV crime dramas, NFL games and NASCAR, and staying in touch with friends “the old-fashioned way”. Bertie Jo was highly creative and also had a very vivid imagination. She never lost her zeal for learning and looked forward to the weekly “classes” involving myriad subjects she and Bonnie Jo would have.
She literally lit up a room just by being there and everyone in her presence naturally gravitated towards her. She was a strong Christian woman who ministered God’s word through her actions. She always had a smile on her face, a kind heart and sweet soul. Anyone who met Bertie Jo even once had their life changed for the better. She was fiercely independent, strong willed and VERY stubborn! Her life had many obstacles and hardships but instead of complaining or making excuses, she accepted what life dealt her and found a way to move forward.
She is predeceased by her parents; daughter, Judith A. Olfers; baby daughter Pamela Jean Moore, who died within days after childbirth; and son, Ronnie Moore.
She is survived by her loving and devoted daughter, Bonnie Jo Barron (Paul); sons Ted Moore and Greg Moore (Martha); Grandbirds, Rissah and Micah Barron; her friend of 45 years Linda Brown (Frank, Adrian, Shania); her “adopted daughter” Susan Butcher; her dear friends Lena K.K. Kavoruis, Donna Rodgers and Sue Evans as well as countless friends who touched her life in unique and special ways. We want to give a special thank you to the Tallowood members who faithfully visited her, Park Manor Westchase for their care the past five-plus years and West Houston Medical Center for their efforts and care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to DePelchin Children’s Center.
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