Velma Moore

NORMAL — Velma Mary Moore, 86, of Normal, formerly of Princeton, died Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Del.

Born Aug. 7, 1921, in Momence to H. Omer and Hazel N. (Snyder) Estill, she married the Rev. Bonnie “Barney” L. Moore Nov. 26, 1942, in Momence. He died Feb. 25, 2003, in Bloomington.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Towanda, a former member of Bureau County Chorus, and a founding member of the Mental Retarded Association of Bureau County and Gateway Center in Princeton. She attended Moody Bible Institute and Bob Jones University. She was an accomplished musician on the organ, piano, trombone, guitar, and sang with her sister on WLS Barn dance. Until this past winter, she served for 18 years as organist in Towanda.

Surviving are one daughter, Janet (Terry) Huff of Bloomington; two sons, Larry (Beth) Moore of Elgin and Randy (Connie) Moore of Howard City, Mich.; one brother, Curtis Estill of Pear Blossom, Calif.; eight grandchildren, Joy (Tommy) Pfister, Sarah (Jeff) Stoller, Shawn, Scot and Stanley Moore, Lane Tingle, and Aaron and Adam Suarez; and three great-grandchildren, Nicole and Morgan Pfister, and Shiloh Stoller.

She was also preceded in death by one son, Garry Moore; one grandson, Tyler Huff; one brother, Orville Estill; and one sister, Maxine Sewell.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the First Baptist Church of Towanda, 205 W. Monroe Street, Towanda, with the Rev. Cal Gowen officiating, and the Rev. Les Rempel and Pastor Mel Barth assisting. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Manlius Baptist Church Cemetery, near Wyanet.

Visitation will be two hours prior to services in the church.

Memorials may be directed to the First Baptist Church of Towanda, P.O. Box 101, Towanda, IL 61776.

The East Lawn Funeral Home in Bloomington is in charge of arrangements.