Betty Claire Moore

Betty Claire (Criner) Moore was born in Houston, Texas, to Joseph Christopher Criner and Annie Laurie (Chapman) Criner. She graduated from Lamar High School, Houston, and went to Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, where she met Emerson “Earl” Moore. They were married in Oklahoma on January 29, 1951.

Earl Moore was a Naval Aviator and was transferred to San Jose, California, in preparation for the Korean conflict. They both finished their degrees at San Jose State University. After that, they moved to Dallas, Texas, where Betty worked as a junior high school English teacher, supporting Earl as he attended Baylor College of Dentistry.

They had two sons, William “Chris” Moore and Edward Andrew “Drew” Moore.

During the 70s, Betty was heavily involved in the anti-smoking campaigns, first in Dallas, then statewide, working with Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), in creating city ordinances to create non-smoking areas in restaurants.

Betty and Earl travelled extensively until Earl’s death, 2013. She remained in Dallas, then suffered a stroke on May 1, 2025.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband, Emerson Earl Moore; her parents, Joseph Criner and Annie Criner; and her five siblings and their spouses.

Betty is survived by her son, Chris Moore and wife Kathleen Moore (Mansfield, TX), son Drew Moore and his wife Jane Moore (Highland Village, TX), and five grandchildren: Lauren Elizabeth Moore (Mansfield, TX), Caitlin Alyssa Moore (Mansfield, TX), Tyler Forest Moore and his wife Abby Moore (Fayetteville, AR), Victoria Claire Moore (Dallas, TX), and Clayton Wyatt Moore (Fort Benning, GA).

Betty and Earl were members of Park Cities Presbyterian Church.

She will be interred at the National Cemetery, Grand Prairie, where her husband is interred.