Dorothea Moore

Dorothea LeClaire Moore
Former Casper resident Dorothea Joy (LeClaire) Moore passed away in Centennial, Colorado on March 17, 2009. She was 99. She was born in Huntley, Montana on September 30, 1909 to Edward Blythin and Clarissa Jane (Joy) LeClaire. Her father served as stenographer and senior clerk for the U.S. Reclamation Service while the Huntley Reclamation Project was under construction. During that time he processed the many families that came to homestead and start a new life in the West. Dorothea had many happy memories of her childhood in Huntley and formed friendships there that lasted throughout her long life.
In 1917 the family moved to Billings where Dorothea completed elementary school and graduated from Billings High School. She attended the University of Iowa where, in 1933 she graduated with honors and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature. Upon graduation, Dorothea returned to Montana where she was employed as assistant to a professor at Eastern Montana College in Billings.
While at the University of Iowa, she met her husband to be, Kenneth, who was working his way through college and had the job of caring for the yard and furnace of the house belonging to Dorothea's maternal grandmother in Iowa City. They were married on June 5, 1937 in Billings and moved to Casper. A job transfer took them to Overland Park, Kansas in 1942, but they returned to Casper in 1945 where the couple lived until Kenneth passed away in March of 2001. Dorothea then moved to Colorado to be closer to her children.
Dorothea was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Casper and was employed as the church secretary from 1955 until 1970. She enjoyed the many church activities including the women's circles and fellowship activities. For many years she participated in a weekly prayer group at the church. She was a Phi Beta Kappa and a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She belonged to Fort Casper Chapter No. 4 of the Order of Eastern Star.
Dorothea was a gentle person and had a variety of personal interests. She loved animals and a pet cat was always a part of her family. She delighted in an annual vacation at the family cabin near Red Lodge, Montana. She played bridge both with family and friends. She especially enjoyed her flower garden and her African violets. In summer there was always a garden bouquet in her home. Her love of poetry and literature lasted throughout her life. In her later years, loss of eyesight prevented her from reading, but she would often quote from memory the poems of Robert Browning and lines from Shakespeare. She was fond of children's literature and knew dozens of nursery rhymes and children's stories by heart.
Survivors include a son Kenneth Claire Moore (Helen) of Ft. Lupton, Colo., a daughter, Dorothea Jane Moore of Centennial Colo., a sister, L. Jane Scheidecker of Billings, Mont, a sister-in-law Eleanor LeClaire of St. Louis, Missouri, five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.
Dorothea was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, her parents, and her brother, Edward J. LeClaire.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 5, 2009 at Highland Cemetery in Casper. Memorials may be given to the First Presbyterian Church in Casper or a charity of choice. Newcomer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.