Mary Lou Watkins-Moore

Born Mary Louise Watkins on February 15, 1940 in Anaheim, California and raised in the 1940s and 50s, Mary Lou often shared warm memories of her childhood in Southern California, wearing poodle skirts, eating Carnation ice cream and enjoying the music of the era. She delighted in all things vintage long into her waning years, including a formidable collection of classic teddy bears.

She dedicated over four decades to children as an elementary school teacher and elementary school principal in the Fountain Valley School District. Students in her classes thrived under her creativity, warm leadership, and focused attention to their individualized needs. She had a knack for seeing and kindling a spark of talent or interest in every child who crossed the threshold of her classroom, and always tended to it with positive care and encouragement. Mrs. Watkins, as she was known to her students, filled the schools she taught in with music, drama, learning about enterprise, as well as math, reading and writing. Her teaching brought learning alive, and at the end of a school day it was often the classroom’s reward to gather around a cozy chair to hear her read aloud one of her favorite stories.

Although Mary Lou generally taught students who were nearing the end of their time in elementary school, gathering her students in this way was just one of the many ways in which she fostered a lifelong love for learning. Even after retiring from the classroom and school administration, Mary Lou gently encouraged her legacy by sharing her passion for teaching with student teachers at California State University, Long Beach, where she served as a supervising professor for ten years. Her lessons live on for the countless students and teachers she inspired.

Mary Lou’s journey through life was marked by deep and enduring relationships. She was married to Gerald Zweig for 29 years. She cherished Jerry’s son, Mike, as her own. She later met Richard Moore in a serendipitous twist of fate—introduced by his late wife, who had asked Mary Lou to conduct her funeral when they were teachers and friends together in Fountain Valley.

That moment in 1994 sparked a connection that blossomed into love. Mary Lou and Richard married in 2002 and spent the next decades exploring the U.S. and Canada, savoring fine meals, and building a life rich in laughter and companionship. As a stepmother she was thoughtful, careful to honor the relationship of a departed parent while making space for a new relationship to begin.

Granny Lou to Mike’s two sons and Larkin’s three daughters, Mary Lou offered unwavering love and listening. Her home was always filled with warmth, books, and the joyful presence of her beloved pets—Cookie the poodle, McKitty the cat, and Rusty, her final and faithful poodle companion.

A fiercely devoted friend, Mary Lou maintained lifelong relationships with her closest childhood friends and came to be known as family by their children and grandchildren. Those closest to her shared her careful listening, love of travel, easy smile, and ability to find the fun in every situation. Her laughter was loud and frequent, unabashed to share her joy. She was adored as a colleague and leader by the teachers she taught alongside. During the holidays, she lifted her voice to sing with a women’s choir, donning sparkly vests and hats to bring joyful music to residents of nursing homes and at senior events.

Typically, a gift from Mary Lou would include some kind of sparkle or sequin, a physical way of Mary Lou sharing the joyful and playful spirit for which she was widely known.

Mary Lou was predeceased by her parents Jean and Bill, and a beloved brother David. She is survived by her husband Richard Moore, stepson Michael (Debbie) Zwieg, sons Jesse and Justin, stepdaughter Larkin (Liam) Morton, granddaughters Rory, Annie and Ella Morton, and stepson Kenneth Moore.

Those closest to her look with gratitude on the years spent loving her kindness, strength, quick wit, generous heart, and impeccable sense of style. She read voraciously, shopped with delight, and never missed an episode of Jeopardy. Her courage in the face of illness and disability was nothing short of heroic, and her smile—freely given and typically framed by bright red lipstick—was a gift to all who knew her.

As Philip Larkin said, “What will survive of us is love.”