Obituary: Lenora Fern Moore, 95

Longtime Wrangell resident Lenora Moore, 95, passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter Susan in Salem, Ore. on January 27, 2015.

Lenora Fern Staggs was born in Fort Collins, Colo. on May 3, 1919 to Milton Staggs and Norma Hucka. After her mother remarried she took the name of her stepfather John Tracy.

The family settled in the Seattle area where Lenora attended Franklin High School. This is where she met and fell in love with her high school sweetheart Richard Moore. Upon graduation from high school Lenora sailed to Wrangell, Alaska aboard the ship North Sea. Arriving in Wrangell on December 4, 1939 they were married the same night at the home of a local couple. They began a life of homesteading at Mile 4 on Zimovia Highway and along the way the couple raised four children; Judith, Susan, Richard, and Charles.

When her daughters were still young she began working outside the home as a dorm mother at the Wrangell Institute. Having studied bookkeeping in high school she began a career as a bookkeeper at various fish canneries until her retirement in 1981.

In retirement Lenora enjoyed traveling to visit her aging aunt and family. Lenora was also active in the Wrangell community on various boards and groups. Most notably she was an active 70 year member of the Wrangell Emblem Club serving as president twice. In later years some of her favorite things were playing bridge on Fridays, having lunch at the senior center, and you would also find her part of a group known as the lunch bunch that met on Tuesdays and then eventually Wednesdays.

Lenora believed in leading by actions and not words to be effective.

Lenora was preceded in death by her sister June, daughter Judy Baker, son in law John Baker, son in law Ken Wooden and son Richard Moore II.

She is survived by her children Susan Wooden; Charles (Shari) Moore; grandsons Mark Wooden, James Wooden, Richard Moore III, Ryan Moore, Mathew Moore, and Kyle Moore; great grandchildren Brayson Moore, Rowen Moore, and Marina Wooden.

A Celebration of Life and burial will be in Wrangell in the spring.