October 19, 2010

Mrs. Martha Ann (Hurt) Moore
Anonymous Bluefield Daily Telegraph The Bluefield Daily Telegraph Tue Oct 19, 2010, 05:00 AM EDT

WELCH — Mrs. Martha Ann (Hurt) Moore, 68, of Welch, W.Va., passed away on Wednesday, October 13th, with her family by her side.

Mrs. Moore was born July 31st, 1942, in Welch to John C. and Vivy Lois Hurt. She graduated from Welch High School in 1960 and attended Marshall University for two years. Martha and Charles Thomas (Butch) Moore were married in Welch on June 12, 1970 and they recently celebrated 40 incredible years. Martha entrusted many wonderful life lessons, love and memories to her children and their families, Susan and David Vega, Rachael, Paige and Miranda of Atlanta, Ga., Bill Moore of Parkersburg, W.Va., Natalie and Steve Bacho, Hannah, Abby, and Charlotte of Newnan, Ga., and Meredith and Steven Mazon, Andrew, Lucas, and Vivy of Davenport, Fla. Martha is survived by her sister, Lois Hurt Cloke, of Huntington, W.Va.; and sisters-in-law, Rosalie C. Hurt, of Huntington, W.Va. and Linda Moore Dalton, of Gary, W.Va. She is also survived by four nieces and five nephews and a host of cousins and friends. In addition to her parents, she is also proceeded in death by her brother, John F. Hurt; and brothers-in-law, Howard Cloke III and Larry Dalton.

Mrs. Moore was a faithful member of Welch First United Methodist Church and former treasurer, Lions Little League Cheerleading Sponsor with Peggy Smith for 20 years, Girl Scout Troop Leader, Administrative Assistant for William B. Swope, M.D., and a humble volunteer for numerous community organizations. She was a member of the McDowell County Chamber of Commerce and served on the McDowell Advisory Council of Health, Inc. from August 2, 1989 to current.

Martha began her service to Welch in July 1984 when she was elected to City Council, and with in four months was City Clerk. She was elected as the first female Mayor of Welch in July 1986 and was entering her 25th year. Martha is the longest serving Mayor in Welch history and in 1990 was awarded the Mayor of the Year in West Virginia by the West Virginia Municipal League. Mayor Moore started Bingo to financially assist the Volunteer Fire Department and was a volunteer to the Fire Department Unit #20. Mrs. Moore was appointed to the State Solid Waste Management Authority by Governor Arch Moore in 1988, Chairman of the Welch Water and Sanitary Boards, Chairman of the Welch Police Pension Board, recently appointed to the Community Relations Board by the Federal Prison, and a Board Member of the Pioneer Community Bank since January 2009. She is also a proud member of the Stop the Hurt, Inc. - McDowell County Children’s Advocacy Center. Mayor Moore had begun a city wide beautification by removing old abandoned buildings, developing the Riverfront Park area downtown, having scenes of Welch painted on the water towers and town buildings and inviting Marquee Theaters to open in Welch. Mayor Moore started many things: Annual Fair, Autumn Harvest, The Last Blast of Summer, Welch Volunteer Fire Department, Welch Bingo and many more engaging activities for the community. “She was always starting up something!”

A celebration of life, officiated by Pastor Amanda Reed, will be held Saturday, October 23, 2010 at the Welch First United Methodist Church. Family visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. and the celebration of life at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Welch First United Methodist Church, 125 Virginia Avenue, Welch, WV 24801, McDowell County Public Library, 90 Howard Street, Welch, WV 24801, or the American Cancer Society / Lung Cancer Research, 1816 Jefferson St., Bluefield, WV 24701, 304-327-8770, 1-800-227-2345.

It was Martha’s wishes to be cremated. Arrangements were made by A.S. Turner and Sons, Decatur, Ga. and Fanning Funeral Home, Welch, W.Va.


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