Rose Ann Moore

Rose Ann Moore, 88, longtime Sunnyside resident, went to be in the arms of her Heavenly Father on July 29, 2025, after a long battle with dementia.  Her faith in Christ guided her every step.  She was a devoted lifetime member of United Methodist Church.  She will be remembered for her love of family, joyful spirit, music, teaching, and her love for God’s word. 

Rose Ann was born in Bellingham, WA, October 1, 1936, to Clarence & Bertha (Schiebner) Southern, the oldest of four girls.

Rose Ann attended primary school in Bellingham before moving to Coulee City and graduating high school from Coulee City HS.  She attended Western Washington College of Education, graduating in 1958 with a BA in Education.  While at Western she met Walter Moore.  They were married on May 17, 1958, at Ephrata UMC.  They made their home in Roseburg, Oregon where she started teaching at Roseburg for 2 years and Walt was drafted into the Army for 2 years.  She traveled to Europe to visit him during his term; they explored a lot of Europe which they really enjoyed.  They moved to Bellingham upon Walt’s discharge, where Walt finished college while she taught at Burlington School for 4 years.  In 1964 they made their home in Sunnyside, WA both getting jobs at Sunnyside School district respectfully.  She taught at Outlook and Sunnyside Schools for 32 years and then substituted for many more years after that.  She loved teaching so much because of her kind and caring heart.

Walt and Rose Ann were blessed with two sons Brian & Bruce.  She would always say how difficult it was to name the boys with Walt & her being teachers.  Most names reminded them of ornery or misbehaved students.

Rose Ann’s joy in life was her family.  Walt and Rose Ann spent countless hours at ball games, concerts, school events, and at the pool for swim meets with her boys and grandsons. Her grandsons lovingly called her Grandma Rosie.  She rarely missed any of these events.  She was very close with her 3 sisters as they loved to talk, shop, quilt, and took many trips together.

She enjoyed sewing, quilting, singing, reading, listening to music, playing piano & organ, yearly camping trips with their college friends, and traveling.  Her and Walt enjoyed many cruises taking them to the Panama Canal, Caribbean, and to Alaska twice.  Spending summers in the San Juan Islands on their boat.  Upon retirement, her & Walt took a motorhome trip with Jess & Audrey Moore all up and down the East coast. 

She was involved in many community groups.  Lower Valley Community Concert Association, sang in the Sound Expressions group, Nuevella Club & PEO Chapter L. She was the Sunnyside UMC Bell choir director for many years and during her time with this the bell choir was invited to the World’s fair in Vancouver BC, also traveling to California & the coast with her choir.  Her greatest love was Delta Kappa Gamma, the largest professional honorary society of women educators in the world.  She was invited to join DKG in 1970 and met so many wonderful people.  She held many local, state & international offices, including state president, local chapter president and state executive secretary.  She traveled all over North America for conventions. She was honored at a DKG awards night for 50 years with the organization.

She is survived by her loving husband Walter Moore of 67 years; her children Brian (Suzanne) of Outlook and Bruce of Sunnyside; her grandchildren, Matthew, Brandon (Sha’rel), and Nathan Moore and 3 great grandchildren, Colton, Austin, and Logan.  Sisters Jan Barr of Mattawa, WA, Pat (Bob) Craghead of Newman Lake, WA, and Linda (Bill) Lindh of Elmer City, WA. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws Larry Cagle, Carl Barr, Charles Moore, Marian Arnold, Helen Johnston, Jess Moore and her nephew Roger Cagle.

A special thank you to the staff at Heartlinks Adult Family Home in Sunnyside for all their wonderful care of Rose Ann.

Viewing and Visitation will be held Thursday, August 14, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside, WA. Funeral Services will be Friday, August 15, 2025, at 10:00 am at the Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Sunnyside, WA with burial to follow at Outlook Cemetery in Outlook, WA. A luncheon will be held at Sunnyside Christian Reformed Church following graveside service. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Rose Ann’s memory, may tribute to Sunnyside Christian Reformed Church, “Children’s Ministries”, 700 N. 16th Street, Sunnyside, WA  98944

Those wishing to sign Rose Ann’s  online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomemsith.com Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

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