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Submitted: 8/22/11 • Approved: 1/31/19 • Last Updated: 2/3/19 • R578372-G578372-S3
Alva 10 Apr 1915 - 06 Jun 2011
Bonnie 02 Feb 1919 - 30 May 2017
Marriage: 09 Apr 1939 Book W-440 Lawrence County, Arkansas
Husband of Bonnie Marie (Gibson) Moore. son of Robert Calvin Moore and Margaret Jane (Matthews) Moore. Bonnie Marie Gibson) Moore daughter of John Shepherd Gibson and Mary Frances (Gillihan) Gibson
Truman Moore
Truman Moore, a lifetime resident of Lawrence County and a descendent of two pioneer Lawrence County families, died Monday at the age of 96.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Bonnie Gibson Moore, of the home; two daughters, Fran Austin (Doug) of Cape Girardeau, Mo; and Cathy Clowers (Dr. Larry) of Hot Springs Village; two sons, Harry Truman Moore (Linda Lou) of Paragould; and Tom Moore (Darlene) of Walnut Ridge; four granddaughters, Tina Dolbeare (Alex) of Columbus, Ind; Teri Goodman (Scott) of Cape Girardeau; Dr. Marsha Clowers of New York, N.Y.; Dr. Holly Clowers of Jackson, Tenn.; one grandson, Matthew T. Moore of Walnut Ridge; a great-granddaughter, Meg Goodman of Cape Girardeau; two great-grandsons, John Paul Goodman of Cape Girardeau; and Austin Doyle of Columbus; and a step great-grandson, Nevada Dolbeare of Columbus.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert C. Moore and Margaret Matthews Moore; and three adult brothers and two adult sisters.
Truman was a graduate of Sloan-Hendrix Academy and began his varied professional career as a country school teacher, teaching eight grades in one room in several rural Lawrence County communities.
The education of his children became one of his top priorities, and he was proud that all of his children and grandchildren have earned or are completing college degrees, with six of them earning advanced degrees.
His work experience included employment as a car salesman, grocery clerk, bookkeeper (including his duties as the bookkeeper and manager of the "company store" at the Lauratown plantation), as a retail merchant, a funeral director and as a real estate agent and broker.
From 1955-1982 he owned as a partner and then sole shareholder the Bowlin-Moore, and later, Moore Furniture Company. His wife, Bonnie, worked with him in the business from 1969 until they sold it.
In his final employment, he served until he was 94 as principal broker for a local real estate firm.
Truman was a respected community and business leader, including service as president of the Walnut Ridge Chamber of Commerce, president of the Arkansas Furniture Association and member of the Lawrence County Historical Society.
He was probably best known for his work for his church, First Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge, where he was a devoted member for more than 65 years and served as a deacon, church treasurer, Sunday School superintendent and a choir member.
Truman possessed an incredible memory, and never forgot a face and the name that went with it. He maintained an interest in politics and public affairs until his last illness. He estimated that he attended more than 85 Fourth of July Picnics at Portia, and rarely missed the political speeches. His home was often open to office holders on the 4th, where candidates would stop for a visit with him and a glass of Miss Bonnie's homemade lemonade.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge with Rev. Mark Harris officiating. Pallbearers will be deacons of the church.
The family will receive visitors prior to the funeral beginning at noon at the First Baptist Church. Burial will follow under the direction of Bryan Funeral Home in the New Hope Cemetery near Denton, where he will join other family members on grounds donated by his grandfather.
Memorials may be made to the building fund of the First Baptist Church, Walnut Ridge, or to a charity of choice.
Obituary located through archives of The Times Dispatch Walnut Ridge, Lawrence County, Arkansas published 08 Jun 2011.
And that of his wife,
Bonnie Moore
Bonnie Marie Gibson Moore, a lifetime resident of Lawrence County, died Tuesday, May 30, at age 98.
A "Groundhog Day" baby, she was born Feb. 2, 1919, near Clear Springs, Ark., to John Shepherd Gibson and Mary Frances Gillihan Gibson.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Truman Moore; a daughter, Catherine Marie Moore Clowers; her brother, Master Sgt. Herman N. Gibson; and her sisters, Lorene Chapman, Juanita Lumex and Louella McNeill.
She is survived by a daughter, Fran Austin (Doug) of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; two sons, Harry Truman Moore (Linda Lou) of Paragould; and Tom Moore (Darlene) of Walnut Ridge; a son-in-law, Dr. Larry Clowers of Hot Springs Village; four granddaughters, Tina Dolbeare (Alex) of Dayton, Nev.; Teri Goodman of Cape Girardeau; Dr. Marsha Clowers of New York, N.Y.; Dr. Holly Clowers Oberg (Dr. Richard) of Jackson, Tenn.; one grandson, Matthew T. Moore of Walnut Ridge; a great-granddaughter, Meg Goodman of Springfield, Mo.; and great-grandsons, John Paul Goodman of Cape Girardeau; Austin Doyle of Los Angeles; and Nevada Dolbeare of Dayton.
Bonnie loved to reminisce about her youth when she rode horses, swam in Spring River and worked on the family farm. After graduation from Sloan Hendrix Academy in 1938, she topped her class at Jonesboro Business College and worked in Jonesboro before marrying her high school sweetheart in 1939. "We said, 'I do,' and we did," she once recalled.
She obtained a license to teach school, but she chose instead to teach at home, sharing the lessons of life with the four children who she supported through school and sent to college. A consummate homemaker, her family holiday meals were legend.
After her children were grown, she joined her husband, Truman Moore, as co-owner and operator of Moore Furniture Co. in Walnut Ridge. Truman may have been "the boss," but everyone knew who was really in charge.
Her home was a rest stop for Arkansas politicians as they traveled from the July 4th picnics in Clay County to the final stop of the day at the Portia Picnic. She served iced tea and fresh-squeezed lemonade to State Supreme Court judges, congressmen, senators, governors, attorneys general, and a young man who eventually became president.
After they sold the business and retired, Bonnie enjoyed flower gardening, travel, photography, reading, Lawrence County Historical Society, quilting, and the Lawrence Welk Show. She was known for her wit and her "sayings." If she wanted something kept a secret, she would tell you: "If I want someone to know what I said, I'll tell them myself."
From the time the couple moved to Walnut Ridge about 1946, she was a member of First Baptist Church, where she filled many volunteer roles. The time she spent teaching classes of two-year-olds on Sunday morning was particularly gratifying, as many grew up to be leaders in the church. She enjoyed Women's Missionary Union and her adult Sunday School class; in her later years, at Lawrence Hall, she often shared her faith with staff and visitors.
The funeral service was Friday, June 2, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge with Rev. Jake Guenrich officiating. The family received visitors at the church beginning at noon. Burial followed in the New Hope Cemetery, near Denton, under the direction of Bryan Funeral Home.
Memorial gifts may be made to the building fund of the First Baptist Church, Walnut Ridge, or your favorite charity.
An online guestbook is available at www.bryanfh.com.
Obituary located through archives of The Times Dispatch Walnut Ridge, Lawrence County, Arkansas published 07 Jun 2017.
Contributed on 8/22/11 by denise.bratcher63
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Record #: 578372