After giving cancer and other cowardly ailments much more than they bargained for, former Walworth County resident Mary Ann Moore joined the Lord on Dec. 23, 2022.
She was born in Milwaukee Jan. 29, 1935, to Lester and Ethel (McLaughlin) Stark.
She graduated from Wauwatosa High School and studied at Mount Mary College and Marquette University.
She married Bill Moore, and in the early 1970s the odd couple moved to a new home between East Troy and Whitewater, where Mary embraced country living.
She held various jobs at places like Kurth Malting Co. and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, but Mary was primarily devoted to raising their son, Mike.
She was a Cub Scout den mother, school committee member, amateur painter, and nurse to injured birds and rabbits.
For someone who considered driving the speed limit reckless, Mary bravely went skiing, whitewater rafting, and windsurfing alongside her son to demonstrate the value of trying new things.
After she and Bill divorced in 1994, Mary found a passion as an antique dealer. Although she proved more adept at buying than selling, she made friends on the circuit and rented space at two Delavan antique shops for years.
In 2008, Mary selflessly moved to the Racine area to help care for her first grandbaby but clashed with stricter suburban and condo rules, gleefully asking, “What are they gonna do, arrest an old lady?”
She remained loyal to her old circle, driving an hour or more for appointments with her longtime hair stylist, dentist, doctor, and accountant.
Mary is survived by her son, Mike (Laura); grandkids, Sean and Erin; and her dog, Charlie, all of Racine.
For the dedication and patience of her caregivers in the Ascension and Aurora systems, the family is forever grateful.
In her final days, Mary expressed doubt that enough loved ones remained to warrant a service. It would pleasantly surprise her if friends and acquaintances attend a visitation at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 1981 Beulah Ave., East Troy, where Mary was previously a member. A memorial Mass will follow at 11:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mary’s name to Right to Life Wisconsin or directed to the Moore family to offset expenses.
