Mary Helen Moore

Ms. Moore took a job as a telephone operator at Pacific Northwest Bell in 1966. Thirty-two years later, she retired as a Regional Program Officer at US West, which took over Northwest Bell in 1984. In those three decades, Ms. Moore graduated from college, became a well-known community activist, raised her daughter and became an ordained pastor. Ms. Moore suffered a massive stroke and died Thursday. She was 57. "She did the best she could," said Joyce English, Moore's daughter. "She always wanted me to be well taken care of. The only word to describe my mom is 'amazing.' " Ms. Moore was born on Dec. 10, 1946, in Herlong, Calif, near Oakland. She was the oldest of seven children born to Fred and Lee Ethel Moore.Lee Ethel Moore, 77, of Kent, said her daughter had always been hardworking and spiritual. She said her daughter started teaching Sunday school at age 13. As a telephone operator, Ms. Moore often worked night shifts. But she did everything she could to make it to her daughter's school events and to be there when she needed her, Joyce English said. When Ms. Moore's mother and four siblings moved to the Seattle area she made every attempt to bring the family together for parties, English said. "She was very much a caretaker," said English, who lives in Tacoma. "She took care of more people than herself." Ms. Moore was active in many organizations and their boards, including the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Pacific Northwest Bankers Association, Women's Funding Alliance and United Way of King County. Since last year, Ms. Moore had been the pastor at Ebenezer AME Zion Church, English said. After retiring from US West in October 1998, Ms. Moore worked as executive director at Neighborhood House, a Seattle organization which helps immigrants, refugees and people living on low incomes, until March 2000. She started working as vice president and community-relations manager at US Bank in May 2000. "She worked her way up from a telephone operator to an executive," said Lori Byrne, a friend of Ms. Moore's since they worked together at US West 15 years ago. "She was strong but not intimidating. Mary would like to tease you and put you at ease. She was great at mentoring folks." "She brought so much into people's lives by just showing up and being in the room because of her positive nature," said Byrne.

"With Mary leaving us goes a little of our humanity." In addition to her mother and daughter, Ms. Moore is survived by her brothers Richard Moore of Kent and Ocie Moore of Seattle; sisters Debra Moore and Diane Moore of Seattle, Carolyn Moore of Los Angeles and Valerie Moore of Reno. She is also survived by son-in-law Joseph English and grandchild Jacour English of Tacoma. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at Ebenezer AME Zion Church, 1716 23rd Ave., Seattle.

Ms. Moore's family asks that flowers and cards be sent to the church.