Carmen Moore

MOORE, Carmen

Carmen Miriam Moore died late evening of June 12, 2024. She was accompanied in her last 3 days by family sharing gratitude, memories, poetry, songs, a favourite reading from Ecclesiastes, and trust in the ongoing nature of the soul. She communicated clearly that she was ready to go and was at peace.

Carmen was predeceased by her husband Arthur Moore, her 5 older sisters Juanita McDonald, Kathleen Slaney, Merle Moore, Jean Reinhardt and Patricia Grant as well as nephews Terrance Slaney, Lee Martin and David Brown. She leaves behind her much loved and loving nieces and nephews Wendie Reinhardt, Denise Wolda, Colleen Brooks (BC); Ron Cheek, Frances Lemieux, Art Brown, Barbara Paterson (ON); Joan Doggrell (FL); Lynn Boomhower (QC); Sara Juranek (OR) and Laurie Gard (ME) and numerous grandnephews and nieces.

Carmen was born April 17, 1926 at Alsask, Saskatchewan to parents Lucille (nee Slayton) Moore and Henry (Harry) Moore. She grew up on her parents' homestead where she early learned to hold her own ground amongst her five older sisters. In the same pattern as her parents and sisters she loved the animals, the dogs Cap, Laddy, Nibby and Nicky, and the horses including Dusky, Pete, Stubby, Lady, and Sam.

Carmen received her early education at the local one-room schoolhouse Wolf Willow, the name her mother Lucy had submitted in a naming contest. Following high school in Alsask she joined her sisters Merle and Pat in Montreal. There she worked in a department store library by day and attended Sir George Williams College (now Concordia) at night. She soon left the department store for a position at the McGill University Library.

On marrying her second cousin Arthur Moore, Carmen moved to Stanbridge East. There she worked in the post office and travelled weekly to the city by bus to attend classes, graduating from George Williams in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts and a major in Library Sciences.

In 1953 she and Art moved to her beloved prairies, to Calgary, where she held the position of supervisor of the Hudson's Bay book department before opening her own store Carmen Moore Books in 1962. In 1967 she entered and won first prize from the Bank of Montreal for a window display featuring the newly published Canada's First Bank. She and Art were given an all expenses paid, week-long visit to Expo in Montreal.

From 1962 to 1977 she enjoyed success in 2 consecutive locations, and then ran a book ordering business until 1981. Always she was held in high esteem by publishing houses and their representatives, by authors and customers. Everywhere she established meaningful relationships and friendships that she maintained over a lifetime.

In 1981 she and Art retired and moved to Vancouver Island where they had a long-dreamed-of log house built for them at Willis Point near Brentwood Bay. Soon, however, Carmen was courted by Butchart Gardens where she was hired as part-time librarian/archivist, first to catalogue their resource library and then to sort through a vast collection of memorabilia and documents to create the Garden Archives. She then took on the task of creating an annual Gardens Historical Display which she did with her usual professionalism, efficiency and flair for presentation. Finally, she was persuaded to stay on to assist with their 100th Anniversary Celebration. In 2005, at 79, Carmen once again retired, 24 years after her first attempt. She reported to family and friends that she had worked for 50 years. One of us did the math and pointed out that in fact she had worked for 60 years. In disbelief she responded, "I was kind of proud of 50 years, but 60 is downright embarrassing!"

It was Carmen's warm enthusiasm and keen interest in people and life that endeared her to so many. She and Art loved nature and local history. They were particularly fascinated by the history and cultures of the Indigenous Peoples and the European pioneers of the Prairies. Their collections of artifacts and antiques filled their home. They loved to travel and together made many trips back to Art's home in Quebec and from British Columbia back to Alberta and Saskatchewan. They also visited friends and relatives in the United States, Australia, Hawaii and the UK. After Art's death early in 2002 Carmen continued to travel, making trips to Quebec and the Prairies, to Ireland, Europe and even to China.

Books were perhaps Carmen's greatest passion: reading, promoting, and selling them. Over the course of her career she developed friendships with many authors.

Carmen had considerable success with her own writing and was published in several magazines such as Saskatchewan Folklore. Although her eyesight failed her in the last few years, with the assistance of a niece she continued to write to the end. She would compose "in her head" and then dictate over the phone.

Their own dogs figured hugely in her life, beginning with Joey, a wedding gift from Art, to be followed by a long list of cherished ones: Candy, Mandy, Rusty, Bobbie, Dusty and Tino, all of whom required daily walks and much love.

Carmen was a great hostess, turning out wonderful dinners and exceptionally fine pastry and berry pies! Throughout their lives she and Art enthusiastically welcomed streams of house guests.

Although Carmen deeply grieved the loss of Art she lived fully for another 22 years. While she suffered losses in the latter years due to failing health, she was surrounded by friends and family and contributed so much in the way of love, wit and good story telling. Always articulate and well-spoken, her greatest wish was to remain cognizant, and that she did with flying colours.

Carmen will be greatly missed by so many. Although many friends predeceased her, in a lot of cases the sons and daughters remained in touch. In the Victoria area, friends including those who worked alongside her at Butchart Gardens and those who are part of the close-knit community of Willis Point visited her right to her last days and marvelled at her memory and ability to engage.

A gathering for all to remember and lift up Carmen's life will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 2:00 in the Willis Point Community Hall, 6933 Willis Point Road. If attending please consider sharing a story which for you illustrates an aspect of who Carmen was. Suggestions for donations: the SPCA, the WWF World Wildlife Fund Canada or any organization that cares for or protects the natural world.