Betty Frances (Cowan) Moore was born on December 6^th, 1933 in Harrison, Arkansas and she left this earthly world on November 23rd, 2023 after a brief stay at The Rose House Assisting Living and Shepherd of the Hills Nursing Home in Branson. She was just 13 days shy of celebrating her 90^th birthday.

Betty’s life was one well-lived and well-loved.

The daughter of Mark Binkley Cowan and Cora Belle (Young) Cowan, Betty was the youngest of 11 children.

Along with her two older sisters – Iva Thompson and Ruth James, Betty had 8 Cowan brothers:  Arlis, Carl Dee, Dennis, Earl, Olin, Mark Jr., James, and Ernie. She is preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings except her brother – Ernie Cowan, 94, who still lives in Harrison with his wife Dolly.

On November 17^th, 1956 she married Charles Herbert Moore of Hollister, Missouri. At the time of Charles’s passing on April 14^th, 2018 they had celebrated 62 years of wedded bliss.

Betty loved to tell the story of how they first met. You see, Charles was the milk man! She worked during the week at the Harrison High School as the office secretary, but worked at her sister’s grocery store on weekends. Charles stopped several times on his route trying to work up the courage to talk to her, he finally succeeded one Saturday afternoon. Charles went home that night after meeting Betty and told his mother, Ella, that if he could just get ONE date with that pretty girl, he was going to marry her!

But here is where it gets good… She finally agrees to go out with him. But on their very first date, after Charles picked her up, they had a flat tire!  Earlier that same week, Charles had broken his arm, so needless to say he was pretty worthless at changing a tire. But Betty said, “I got this!”

Charles couldn’t believe she knew how to change a tire…but you need to remember that Betty had a wonderful Daddy and EIGHT older brothers, so of course they taught her how to change a tire. They laughed about that for years!

After they were married, Charles and Betty lived near Betty’s parents in Harrison, AR until they moved to Blue Eye in the late 60’s. Betty and Charles were members of the Grubb Springs Baptist Church in Harrison, where Betty played the piano at church for several years. Once they moved to Blue Eye, they became members of the First Baptist Church. They knew having their children know Jesus Christ and having him in their lives would always be important for their family.

Betty is survived by their 3 children and 6 grandchildren:

Daughter, Teina Woodburn and husband Terry Woodburn of Mesa, and Granddaughter, Sarah Hammons, of Branson.

Son, Charles Eugene “Gene” Moore and wife Vickie (Badley) Moore of Blue Eye, MO and Grandchildren – Derek Moore and his partner John Munn of Houston, TX; Rachel Moore and her fiancé’ Eli Bieschke of Omaha, AR; Shelby and husband Dillon Neuschwander of Pleasant Hope, MO; Dalton Moore and his wife Hollee of Blue Eye, MO.

Son, Greg Moore of Lampe, MO, and Grandson, Stormy Moore of Lampe, MO.

Betty was a wonderful daughter, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law, and so much more. She was known as “Mo-Mo”, “Mother Moore” and “Grandma Betty” to so many who knew her. While Betty had many nieces and nephews, she took her role of “Aunt Betty” very seriously with the early losses of some of her brothers and their wives and always wanted to shower her love on Linda Kay, Freda, Vickie, David and Leta Ann as though they were her own. And she was always “Aunt Betty” to their families as well.

To know her was to love her. The consummate host, Betty and Charles built a life and a home together that was always open to family and friends alike.  During the kids’ school years, they welcomed two special ladies, Shawna Florence and Cindi Garland to stay with them for a short time to finish high school and again treated them like their own children.

Charles, Betty and their families are known in the Hollister, Branson and the Blue Eye communities. Betty helped Charles in their offices with his brother Stan Moore in Twin Island Realty and then with their office, Charles Moore Real Estate, for several years. Charles and his family were developers of 4 subdivisions; Moore Oasis, Clearwater Acres, Twin Island Heights #1 and #2 and Twin Island Estates and Betty was always at his side along the way.

Charles and Betty were together for over 62 years. They traveled together with friends and family and worked closely together – rarely apart for all of their years.

You might notice that Charles’s Urn is sitting up here with Betty’s today. This is also a sweet story that the family would like to share:

After the passing of Charles in April of 2018 the family set a day to go to Grubb Springs Baptist Cemetery to bury Papa Charlie. The hole had been dug; the stone set. They even planned a “final flight” trip for Papa Charlie’s Urn and Grandma Betty as their grandson Derek brought a plane to College of the Ozarks to get down to Harrison in grand style. Linda Kay and the rest of the family was preparing lunch for everyone.  But… on that morning as the family were loaded in the car and ready to leave, Betty was nowhere to be found. After a quick search, they found her sitting on the edge of their bed, in tears, cradling his heavy urn in her arms. She simply said, “Nope. We are not going to take Daddy to the cemetery today. I feel him with me and want him by my side. So, he can just sit right here on his nightstand with his service flag until I pass…and then you can bury us together.” What could the family do, but honor that last wish of their great love story. So… he is here today.

Later this week, the family will lay them to rest TOGETHER in a private ceremony at Grubb Springs Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life Service for Mrs. Moore will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Greenlawn Funeral Home in Branson with Pastor Kenny Robinette officiating.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 PM until service time at 3:00 PM

The Moore Family wants to thank everyone for their calls, emails, prayers and support these last few weeks. The final journey to Our Great Beyond is often not an easy one, but we rest comfortably knowing that Betty had a strong relationship with her Savior and will be waiting for us all in Heaven.

Thank you for being here today for Betty and her family.