Carmen Moore

Carmen Moore, 93, of Cairo, passed away Saturday September 28, 2024.

Carmen Della Stough Moore was born to Jewell and Opal Stough of Ellenwood, Kansas January 13, 1931. The Stough’s had six children, raising them primarily in Valley Park, Missouri: Jewel “Joey”, Carmen, August “Auggie”, Russell, Glenna “Susie” and Nyla.

All the Stough siblings remained close with each other and their mother Opal throughout their lives, with frequent gatherings that continued through the generations. It was Joey Stough who introduced Carmen to his Army buddy, Edwin James “Ed” Moore. Later, Joey and his wife, Jenny, served as best man and matron of honor at Carmen and Ed’s wedding, March 5, 1949, at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis. The two couples remained lifelong friends. Carmen was baptized at Manchester Baptist Church in 1962.

Carmen and Ed had five children: Martha, Edwin James Jr “Jim”, Vickie, Keith, and Dale. Throughout their 47-year marriage, Ed often surprised Carmen with purchases - trucks, cars, cows, and goats often popped up unannounced. One of the biggest surprises was their new family home outside Cairo, Missouri in 1963. Carmen often reflected on how quiet she found Cairo after growing up in a St. Louis suburb, and then how noisy St. Louis was when she visited. 

In Cairo, Carmen and Ed raised five children and spoiled 18 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, six great-greats, and even a great-great-great (and counting)! She served as a babysitter, treat maker, chief camp cook, bleacher cheerleader, and respite provider. She loved keeping up with her nieces and nephews in the St. Louis area as well. Even from her sickbed, Carmen could be found keeping up with the “kids” through Facebook. 

Carmen found an extended family with her church and community. Carmen and Ed enjoyed making friends during the monthly gatherings in their local Community Club. She transferred her membership to Cairo Baptist Church in 1963. Carmen expressed her faith through her church activities, often serving as a Sunday School teacher, nursery worker, meal provider, and prayer chain participant. She served on the Women& #39’s Missionary Union and was deployed multiple times with the Missouri Baptist Convention Disaster Relief team providing food services. When her daughter Vickie and son-in-law Gene Austin began their work with the Baptist Student Union, Carmen joined them on student mission trips to help feed hungry college students after their Mission service. She told stories of trading cooking techniques with students from other cultures. While she loved traveling with family or for a mission, one of her most beloved trips was a hot air balloon ride that her children bought her as a gift.

While her family is devastated to lose its matriarch, Carmen was ready to take her Savior’s hand and was excited to see her heavenly family again. In addition to her parents and 4 siblings, Carmen was preceded in death by her husband Ed, daughter Martha and son-in-law Ron Roberts, daughter-in-law Glenda Moore, son-in-law Gene Austin and twin grandsons Jacob and Matthew Moore.

Carmen is survived by her sister Glenna Trione, children Jim Moore, Vickie Austin, Keith (and Vicki) Moore, and Dale (and Jacki) Moore as well as an ever-growing multitude of grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Those who knew Carmen knew that her faith was her rock, her family was her purpose and her friends were her joy.

Carmen requested memorial donations may be made to Cairo Baptist Church.

Words of comfort and support were shared with the family at a visitation, held in the Cater Funeral Home Chapel, followed by funeral services honoring and celebrating Mrs. Moore’s life.  Private committal prayer and inurnment took place at the Missouri State Veteran’s Cemetery, Jacksonville, MO