Mary S. Moore

Mary S. Moore of Cottonwood died peacefully at home on August 22nd. Born June 2, 1943 in Fort Madison, Iowa to Joseph and Margaret (Daly) Sanders, she was the firstborn of 12 children. Growing up on the family farm, she became a caregiver for her younger siblings at a young age, patching up their wounds, and keeping them fed, clean, clothed and well. Like a second mother in the family, “Mary Jo” as they fondly called her, took good care of them while still attending school full time. 

After the family moved to Scottsdale, AZ in 1960 she finished high school and later earned her LPN nursing degree at Mesa Community College. In 1968 she worked at Maricopa Medical Center, and did follow-up care for St. Jude’s Hospital patients. In 1969 she became a VISTA Volunteer (AmeriCorps) and trained for 3 months as a home health care nurse in Ark. Miss. and Ala. Then, as a volunteer, she provided health care to homebound patients in West Memphis, Ark. and Guaymas, Sonora Mexico. 

In 1972 she moved to San Diego, did private duty home care nursing, and met her future husband. They had one child and moved to Cottonwood in 1980. After 3 years as a stay-at-home-mom, she went to work at then MJL Memorial Hospital (later NAH) and retired in 2008. She loved to travel, and one of her favorite pastimes was hiking along the West Fork of Oak Creek with friends and family.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Steve Moore; Sanders family brothers John, Pat (Fran), Ray, Tom (Mary), Dave (Ramona), and Jeff (Jenifer), sisters Maureen Andreas, Suzanne Mulnick (Jeff), Jeanne Sanders, Rose Nielsen, sister-in-law Vicky Sanders, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family; Moore family sisters-in-law Kathy Nelson (Larry), Kelly O’Sullivan, Kristy Littlefield, and daughter-in-law Summer Moore. 

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Joe (“Pappy”) and Margaret, step mother Bea Sanders, son Russell Moore, brother Dennis, sister-in-law Carol Sanders, and brother-in-law Paul Nielsen. 

No services are scheduled; a celebration of life for family and close friends will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity.