Raylyn Moore

Raylyn Moore, a novelist, short story writer, and educator who lived on the Peninsula for more than fifty years, died Sunday at her home in Pacific Grove. Born Raylyn Crabbe to parents Ethelyn and Byrl in Waynesville, Ohio, on January 5, 1928, Moore graduated from Ohio State University in 1948 with a degree in journalism. She went to work for the Prescott, AZ, Daily Courier, where she met her first husband, William Penney, whom she married in 1949. She later worked as a reporter for the Salt Lake City, UT, Deseret News, the Monterey Peninsula Herald, and the Carmel Pine Cone. She married her second husband, author Ward Moore, in 1965. In 1970 she began teaching creative writing, science fiction, and English literature at Monterey Peninsula College. She taught English there for 32 years, until she retired in 2002. She received her M.A. from San Jose State in the early 1970s. Moore is the author of two novels, a biography of L. Frank Baum, and more than 20 short stories. She became the first woman to publish a story in Esquire when her first short story appeared in the magazine in 1954. Her stories appeared in Cosmos, Harper's Showcase, The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction, 100 Great Fantasy Short Short Stories, The Last Dangerous Visions, Cassandra Rising, and many other anthologies. In addition to writing and teaching, she was at one time an avid motorcyclist who did extensive traveling with long-time friend Dan Toms. She had her fourth child in a state park in Tennessee and later published a short story about her experience. In the last few years she turned to writing poetry, and gave a poetry reading this February in Carmel. She was also a co-founder of the Monterey Peninsula Dickens Fellowship. Her first marriage ended in divorce in 1965. Her second husband died in 1978. She is survived by her children Beth Penney of Pacific Grove, Jeanne Mileti (Mark) of Carmel Valley, John Penney (Cathy) of Los Angeles, and Sara Moore of Pacific Grove; stepchildren Sam Moore of Virginia, Ben Moore of Monterey, and Hannah Moore of Virginia; five grandchildren, Klaus Campbell, Skylar Campbell, Jody Campbell, Monica Mileti, and Lauren Penney; her former son-in-law Bob Campbell; and many loving friends. Her brother Julian preceded her in death. Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 12, at 1:00 p.m. at Pacific Coast Church in Pacific Grove.