Mary F. Moore

Mary Frances Blankenship Moore died peacefully at home of natural causes on June 1, 2024 in Nashua, New Hampshire at age 92. She was born December 22, 1931, the tenth of eleven children of James Jefferson and Stella Minnie (Young) Blankenship.

Mary grew up in Narrows, Virginia in the hills of the New River Valley. With the scarcity of jobs during the depression, her parents moved the family to a farm along the New River. When Mary was ten years of age they moved back to Narrows where she lived until graduating high school. Throughout her whole life she remained deeply attached to her brothers and sisters and their families.

Mary married Gerald T. Moore in 1952. She moved with Gerald to Massachusetts where they raised six children. In 1966, with two weeks’ notice, Gerald’s job took the family to Cologne, Germany where they lived for almost three years. Mary immediately started learning German and how to navigate a foreign country and taught her children to do so as well.

In 1968 the family moved to Glenview, Illinois, where they lived for four years. In 1972 they moved back to Massachusetts and settled in Harvard. Mary’s later years were spent in Chelmsford, MA and finally Nashua, NH.

Mary had a broad range of interests and talents. She loved travelling and learning about other cultures. She had a beautiful voice, effortlessly harmonizing even as a child. She was fond of telling the story of how her father exclaimed to her mother as they sang on the back porch, “Minnie! That child is singing alto!” She was only five years old. Later, Mary sang in the town choirs of Bedford and Harvard, Massachusetts. She participated in college courses for a number of years at Riviere College in Nashua studying art, languages and writing. Her works of writing are witty, warm and insightful and are precious to her family. She was accomplished at flower arranging and enjoyed artisan egg decorating and painting.

Mary had a sunny disposition with a grateful attitude. Anyone who lighted at her door would receive a warm smile and greeting. Her southern background would come out with a “How you doin’ sugar?” or “What’s happening Darlin’”. She was a bright spot in the lives of those around her. Mary cherished time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and will be remembered as a power of example with respect to her verve for life, nature and her devotion to family.

She is survived by children Susan M. Rogan (Robert), Mark O. Moore (Susan Lander), Leslie M. Dionne (Gary), Marianne Moore and grandchildren Samantha Rogan, Stephanie Rogan (Michael Masse), Krista Seaton (Jeremy), Dylan Moore, Ashley Moore (Tamas Javor), Sarah Petreyko, William Cook (Elizabeth) and Hannah Cook, and great grandchildren Jocelynn, Christopher, Alexander, Maya, Harvey, Michael and Millie Mae. Mary is predeceased by two of her children, David G. Moore and Sarah A. Moore, her siblings Clara, Anna Pauline, Stephen Edmond, William, James Jr., Lillian, Nellie May, Bessie Helen, Garland Wesley and Grover Chapman, and her husband of 35 years, Gerald T. Moore.

A Celebration of Mary’s life will be held at Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, New Hampshire Tuesday July 2nd at noon.