Margarette Louise Moore

Margarette Louise Moore was born on January 11, 1939 in Bigelow Arkansas, to the parents of Jacob Irving Wilson and Laura Mae Brown. She was an industrious child, who started working at the age of 7, picking potatoes. At 13 she begged Ms. Baker to do her ironing for pay, and at 15 she started doing house work for an attorney. At age 17, she worked at a tavern after school, until she was fired for “not complying” with her boss.

She attended Roosevelt Grade School and excelled as a student. At age 11 her family moved to Little Rock, where she attended George Washington Carver Elementary School, and she accepted the Lord at Samaritan Hill Baptist Church. She met Thomas J. Moore, when she was 12, but she didn’t take him seriously and chose to focus on school. She was an honor roll student her entire time at Scipio A. Jones High School. She graduated in 1956, and received an AA from Shorter Junior College in 1959.

She relocated to Portland, Oregon in 1959. Shortly thereafter she got a job at Safeway and there met and became close friends with Arizonia Warren. She joined Vancouver Baptist Church the 1st Sunday in January 1960. She was a faithful member, serving in various capacities, such as the hospitality committee, usher board, benevolence and teaching Sunday school.

Margarette and Thomas got reacquainted in 1963, after she sent him a letter that took a circuitous route through Germany and other Army bases. It finally reached him in Chicago, Illinois. After a brief courtship, a three-day bus ride from Ft. Mammoth, New Jersey to Portland, Oregon, they were married December 17, 1963, by Reverend O.B. Williams.

Margarette wanted five children, but she never had any. Her sister Mary, told her, “God didn’t let you have any children because He knew I’d need you to help me take care of mine.” And that she did. She was a very loving, supportive, caring, giving and comical Aunt, providing an open door, a listening ear, encouragement and sound wisdom. She remembered birthdays and holidays, and attended as many graduations, weddings and other special events as possible. Also, for several years, she was the unofficial guardian of her great-grand niece, Marqurite.

When she returned to Portland, following Thomas’ assignment in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, she thought she would draw unemployment, but her reputation preceded her. She received a call from Albertson’s, asking if she could come work for them. She was a dedicated, hard-working employee for many years, until her doctor refused to do another carpal tunnel surgery, and she went out on disability/an early retirement.

Aunt Margarette always loved the Lord, and her grandmother taught her to thank Him for each new day. But after Uncle Thomas died, she began to realize just how much the Lord loved her and the importance of having a relationship with Him, for it was the Lord who kept her, strengthened and comforted her and brought her through. Following a few years of mourning, the Lord blessed her with a dear and special friend, in the person of Deacon Henry Knight.

Margarette loved spending time with family and friends. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, and she especially loved to shop until she dropped. She loved entertaining, serving others and volunteering, so it was befitting for her as a member of the Arkansas Club, to help prepare Thanksgiving dinners, and she was instrumental in ensuring they were hand delivered to disabled people in the community.

Margarette was preceded in death by her husband of almost 40 years, Thomas J. Moore, her mother, Laura Mae Brown, her father, Jacob Irving Wilson, her sister, Mary L. Kelley, her brother, Willie Wilson, her sister, Veola Booth, her Niece, Althea Smith, her special friend, Deacon Henry Knight and her BFF, Arizonia Warren.

She leaves many loved ones to mourn and cherish her memory; (6) nieces/nephew: Deborah (R.L.II) Lamb, Marguerite Bell, Marcia A. Wilson, Marietta Wadley, Katrina Wilson and Carl Booth; (6) grandnieces/nephews: Aaron (Charlene) Smith; Bwana L. Johnson; Vanessa Lamb, Marietta Louden, Michecia M. Jones and Austin T. Brazille III, great-grandnieces and nephews, her lifelong friend Lillie Lawrence, cousins, church family and friends.