Elizabeth McGowan Moye

Elizabeth McGowan Moye passed peacefully on August 13 surrounded by her family at her home beside the Pamlico River in Washington, NC. She fought a prolonged battle with cancer, defying the odds and bravely confronting the disease, all while maintaining full dedication to her family, her friends, and her life interests.          

Elizabeth was born on September 10, 1979 in Boone, NC, where she lived until she graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.A. in Economics, having been awarded the highest-grade point average in her major. She loved the feel of her hometown and its surrounding mountains, and she loved to travel, studying abroad in France and the Ecuadorian Andes. She studied for her master's degree at North Carolina State University, where she taught undergraduate classes. She entered the world of banking after college, starting with the State Employees Credit Union. Later, she would become one of the most sought-after local mortgage officers due to her dedication and care for her home buyers. She worked at several major banks before her illness cut her career short.

Elizabeth loved the outdoors, especially hiking the trails in the Boone area. She even hiked the ladders and cables of the Grandfather Mountain Trail with her brother while she was pregnant with her son. She loved her home in Washington and boating around the Inner Banks with her family. Her heart was in Ocracoke, where she would often ride the ferry over to visit with her good friends. She also loved her four dogs: her husband's bluetick hounds, Bonnie Blue and Tank, and her two rescue dogs, Lola and Pete, the latter often by her bedside as her health faded.

Elizabeth enjoyed live music from local artists to national acts, with Widespread Panic, Yarn, Billy Strings and the Dune Dogs being among her favorites. You could often find her attending concerts and music festivals with her husband and friends. During her illness, her friends were there for her, helping her attend “shows” around the area, which gave her much joy. 

Elizabeth was a follower of Jesus Christ, and a member of the First Methodist Church of Washington, NC, where she actively participated in the Absolute Basics Sunday School class. She was blessed with the support of the ladies of the church during her illness, for which she and her family were grateful.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Moses W. Moye, Jr., and her son, Moses W. Moye III, of Washington, NC; her parents, Kathleen and Thomas McGowan of Boone, NC; and her brother, Michael McGowan, his wife, Susannah, and children Javier and Aurora. of Alexandria, VA.  She has three aunts and one uncle, Bettie Kell Runnion, Janet Kell, Barbara Kell, and Tom Dorrier. She also had a close relationship with her husband’s mother, Frances Duke Moye, sister, Suzanne Moye Edwards and aunts and uncle, Dana Duke Cox, Patsy Duke and Rusty Duke. 

A celebration of Elizabeth’s life will be held at the First Methodist Church of Washington on Saturday, August 23 with a reception beginning at 10:00 followed by the service at 11:15.  Flowers have been generously donated by her devoted friends. If you would like to make a contribution to her memory, please consider The Refuge of Eastern North Carolina, 1380 Lower Field Rd., Ayden, NC 28513.  (ncrefuge.org/giving/donate/) 

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Moye family.