Sylvia Moore (Mortimore)

Sylvia Moore was a kind, hardworking, loyal woman who lived her life to share the warmth in her heart with those around her. Sylvia’s life began on November 9, 1916, when she was born to Harvey and Cordelia (Oxley) Baldwin, just two days after Woodrow Wilson was re-elected. Halfway through "The Great War", in the same year acting legends Gregory Peck and Kirk Douglas were born, and Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to Congress, Sylvia’s parents celebrated their first child on their farm near Gravel Lake in Lawton, Michigan. Being the oldest of six kids, Sylvia, nicknamed Mike, was automatically placed in the role of a hardworking, responsible daughter. While her brothers and sisters arrived into the world, Sylvia attended grade school at East Valley School. Since Sylvia lived in the age before school buses, she had a long walk back and forth to school and could legitimately say, "I had to walk miles in the snow, and in all kinds of weather, to get to school". However, by the time she was in high school, Sylvia decided to forgo the long trek to school and left the family farm to take a job caring for someone’s home for room and board so she would be closer to the school. She attended Lawton High School, but did not complete her junior year. During the summer months she enjoyed attending the Wednesday Night Street Dances in Decatur. No matter how hard Sylvia had worked that day, she never missed the Wednesday Night Street Dance. And on one particularly special Wednesday night, when Sylvia was 20 years old, she met her future husband, Earl Mortimore, at the street dance. Earl was 31 years old and lived by the old high school in Decatur. When they were dating, Sylvia would sit at the window by the sewing machine, anxiously waiting for Earl to arrive and pick her up for their night on the town. Sylvia married Earl on January 16, 1937 in Elkhart, Indiana, the same year that John Steinbeck published Of Mice and Men and Snow White became the first feature-length animated movie. Sylvia’s wedding day was the greatest day of her life because of the love she and Earl shared. Something else that distinguished their marriage was that they had both waited a long time to find the right person to marry.Over the next 50 years, Earl was Sylvia’s best friend and they had a wonderful, loving relationship. He worked the farm and she worked at Hedden Baits Company where she painted fishing lures. She thoroughly enjoyed her job and she happily spent 32 years at Hedden’s. Her starting pay was only .56 cents an hour! Following work, she would come home and help Earl in the fields. Since Sylvia was raised on a farm with five other children, she was a very hard worker. During their marriage, the couple had five children who Sylvia dealt with strictly, but fairly. She loved to fish with her husband at Huzzy Lake, since he knew all the good spots. They were a team. Earl found the fish; Sylvia brought the rods, lures and reels, which she could get as "seconds" from the bait company. She also gave these fishing goodies to her children. Just seeing the couple together, holding hands when they watched television, and whose kids say never fought, was enough to restore any modern pessimist’s view of the institution of marriage. They were lovingly refered to as Papo and Mamo. One of Sylvia’s most treasured possessions was her wedding band. She never took it off. Sylvia and Earl shared an immeasurable amount of memories and love before Earl passed away in 1987. And while Sylvia remarried in 1997 to Lloyd Moore, who died shortly thereafter, Earl was never forgotten in her heart. Sylvia made everything around her special and meaningful, and the holidays were certainly no exception. Sylvia’s favorite holiday was Christmas. She loved to bake and decorate for the season. She especially looked forward to Christmas Eve, when she invited friends and family over to celebrate. On Christmas Day, as well as on Sundays, Sylvia attended St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Lawton. She would also occasionally watch church services on television. Besides dedicating time to her friends and family, Sylvia also raised canaries and parakeets. She kept some of them, and would give away the others or sell them for little or no money to her friends. She spent a lot of time training her birds, but her dogs were her favorites. Topping the list of her furry friends was her last dog, a Toy Poodle named Tiffany.Sylvia’s life was full of love. She loved her family, friends, her birds and dogs, flowers (she had flower gardens outside and raised African violets inside), holidays, Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes pitches and fishing. While Sylvia Moore will be remembered by all who loved her for her warmth and kindness, she will be especially thought of when a solemn bird chirps, a little poodle yips, the Christmas tree is dressed, or Ed McMahon announces another winner. Sylvia’s friends and family will think of her fondly, with a smile and the knowledge that Sylvia lived a long, happy life. Sylvia passed away on April 29, 2003 at Lakeview Continuing Care Center. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Mortimore in 1987; and her second husband, Lloyd Moore in 1997; her son, Maurice Mortimore in 2001; an infant daughter, Bonnie Mortimore in 1944; and three brothers: Colin, Clyde and Harvey Baldwin. Surviving are three children: Mervin (Diane) Mortimore, Sr. of Lawton, Ona Miller of Decatur, and Merle (Gail) Mortimore of Decatur; twenty-one grandchildren; forty-five great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren; two sisters: Iva Teague of Paw Paw and Veva Parish of Decatur. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday 11:00 AM at the Betzler & Thompson Funeral Home, M-40 South of I-94, Paw Paw, 657-3870 Rev. Ron Brooks officiating. The family will be present to receive friends Friday from 5:00-7:00 PM. Interment Oak Grove Cemetery, Lawton. Please visit Sylvia's personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read her life story, share a memory, make a memorial contribution to the charity of your choice, or order flowers on-line.