Mary Belle Moore

On Sunday April 28, 2024, Mary Belle Shoemaker Moore passed away from natural causes at her residence at the Texas Masonic Retirement Community in Arlington, Texas. Mary was 94 years old.

Mary was born on November 5, 1929 in Sunset Texas at the Shoemaker family home, built by her great-grandfather, Philip Shoemaker. Her parents, Carl and Lucille Shoemaker, were a very loving and Christian based family with strong moral fiber. Her sister, Audrey Mae Shoemaker, her oldest and only sibling, was two years old when Mary was born. These sisters became extraordinarily close, became best friends, and remained intimate throughout their life together.

The Shoemaker family moved to the Dallas area in the 1940s and finally settled in Dalworthington Gardens, now a part of Arlington Texas, where she would meet the man who would become her husband, Bobby Gene Moore.

Mary and Bobby married at Woods Chapel Baptist Church on November 9, 1948, in Arlington, Texas. This couple was truly a perfect match, as they loved and appreciated each other in a complementary fashion, filled with honesty, trust and compassion. They had two children during their marriage, Jerald Stephen born July 3, 1954 and Michael Alan, born December 16, 1956.This family was full of love, closeness, sharing of thoughts, and open and honest emotions.

Mary was a dedicated reader with a large library of books. Her joy of reading served as an inspiration to the family. She loved the Bible and has read it through on more than one occasion. The Bible was always a source for her strong faith and belief in Christianity, which she expressed in her devout participation in Baptist religious services at 1st Baptist Church in Arlington.

Mary was a strong-willed force of nature. She stood by her faith, her beliefs, and her family. She has always been the person that you most want to have on your side, and she would always be there to give love, forgiveness, and a hug.

As an artist, Mary was truly gifted, and she used her talent to open an Interior design shop. With her vision, she would coordinate rooms in a house with color schemes, pictures, furniture and design, then create an integrated solution. Her own house was meticulously decorated with customized pieces and works of art.

The loss of her sister Audrey, in 1979, caused extreme grief and suffering for Mary, which affected her for the rest of her life. Their closeness and love for each other was inseparable.

Mary has always had an adventurous spirit and a love for travel. She travelled to all 50 states in the United States, as well as made multiple trips to Europe, where she has explored the world cities of London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona, and many others. She travelled by train, plane, ship, and automobile, all with a determination to learn other cultures and expand her knowledge.

The loss of her husband Bobby, on October 3, 2015, was very difficult and left Mary alone. Since that time, Mary continued independently and surrounded herself with friends and family when possible. She was active in her church and political activities, always able to make lasting and quality friends which stood by her side. She made a lasting impression of strength, strong will, perseverance, and most of all, love.

Mary will always be remembered by her loved ones for her courage, faith, and integrity. She is a constant strength for those who knew her and loved her.

Mary is survived by her two sons and their spouses, Jerry and Katie Moore and Mike and Barbara Moore. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Marilyn Moore, Ellen Moore, Brittany Ouwendijk Eschberger, Jason Eschberger, and Monica Beard-Raymond. Linda Nash, Jason Raymond, Scott Ossi, and Rene Ouwendijk are part of her extended family.