Martha's Obituary

Martha Meyer Moore, 87, of Conway passed away on January 14, 2019 after recurrent cancer. She was born on September 28, 1931 in Palestine, TX to Harry M. Meyer and Marjorie Griffin Peterson Meyer. Martha was an educator and active member of Conway’s First Presbyterian Church. Martha was an alumna of Conway High School and Hendrix College. She completed graduate studies in psychology and education from the University of Chicago and the University of Maryland. After a modeling job at Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas and teaching jobs in Crossett, Arkansas, Chicago, Illinois, and St. Augustine, Florida, Martha became a deaf educator at Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C. She returned to Conway to marry the love of her life, J.O. Moore, Jr., a retired Army lieutenant and co-owner of Conway’s historic J.O. Moore Cotton Gin. The couple had two children, Jamie and Amanda. Martha served as a special educator and administrator for nearly two decades at the Conway Human Development Center and as a teacher at the Faulkner County Day School, Little Rock’s Montessori Child Development Center, and Conway’s First Presbyterian Preschool. After a cancer diagnosis, she ended her teaching career at age 76. After a devastating 2012 aneurysm requiring brain surgery and a miraculous seven month recovery at Salem Place Nursing & Rehab, Martha was motivated to again become fully independent. In June 2018, she suffered a colon cancer recurrence and chose Arkansas Hospice at Salem Place, where she was surrounded by nursing staff who loved her. While Martha was in hospice care, First Presbyterian Preschool named their new playground in her honor. Martha loved her church and her community. She served First Presbyterian Church as a deacon and an elder, and she was a Certified Lay Pastor of the Arkansas Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA. She sat on numerous Presbyterian committees locally and statewide, including the Arkansas Presbytery’s Congregational Care and Development Committee. Martha donated land to Conway’s First Presbyterian Church for the congregation’s current building. The love letters she and future husband J.O. wrote (throughout a decade-long courtship spanning states and continents) are contained beneath what eventually became the congregation’s Fellowship Hall. In her community, Martha was also active in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), PEO, and the Twentieth Century Club. She served on the board of Counseling Associates. Martha was known for always having a smile, a listening ear, a wise word, a keen wit, and a compassionate desire to share meals with the many people she loved. Children, as well as adults, were drawn to her and she was an exemplary educator who loved and positively motivated generations of children. Martha is survived by her daughter Amanda Moore (Thomas Trussell) of Conway, a granddaughter Tasha Moore (Tim Morris) of Birdtown, and a grandson Martin Trussell of Fayetteville. She is also survived by nephews Gene Meyer of Conway; Martin Meyer (Martha McKean Meyer) of Bellbrook, Ohio; David Meyer (Cynthia Neidhart) of Bloomington, Indiana; Stephen Bernheim (Susan Bauer) of Orcas Island, Washington; and a niece Mary Catherine Meyer Dundon (Dennis Mueller) of Nashville, TN, as well as grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and great-grand-nephews. Martha’s family deeply appreciates the excellent, compassionate nursing care she received at Salem Place Nursing and Rehab and through Arkansas Hospice. Memorials can be made to Conway’s First Presbyterian Church, Arkansas Hospice, Hendrix College, or the University of the Ozarks. Her family is also grateful to her MANY friends at First Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Preschool, Arkansas Presbytery, PEO, Twentieth Century Club, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church’s Monday Bible study group, College Square Retirement Community, and numerous friends who loved and supported her in both health and sickness. A memorial service will be held at Conway’s First Presbyterian Church on February 9th, 2019 at 10:00 am., followed by a graveside service and reception at the church. Reverend Mike Ulasewich will officiate.