Betty (Mcgilvra) Moore

Funeral services for Betty (McGilvra) Moore, 87, of Lufkin will be held Friday, October 27, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Mardy Guidry and Brother Brandon Brashear officiating. Interment will follow in Old Union Cemetery.

Betty was born March 17, 1936 in Pollok, Texas to the late Jessie Jane (Parker) and Edmond Alexander McGilvra, and died Monday, October 23, 2023 in a local hospital.

Betty was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was fiercely independent and held tight to making her own decisions. After all, she raised five children by herself, with help from her mother.

In 1961 Betty entered the nursing program at Lufkin Memorial Hospital. When she took her state boards, she was proud to have finished in the top 10% in Texas.

She worked at Lufkin Memorial Hospital for many years and worked for Dr. Bennett (gynecologist). Every now and then she would introduce us to someone and say, “this is one of our babies”. After Dr. Bennett started his slow down for retirement, she worked at a couple of nursing homes until rheumatoid arthritis forced her to take disability.

Betty loved numbers and accounting. She went to work at Campbell Electric until her health forced her to retire. After retirement she was able to get into genealogy. She had a great love of family and family history. She and a cousin, Kim Niesner, would trade information on what they found.

Survivors include her daughters and son-in-law, Pat Warner of Hudson, and Debra and Gary Campbell of Apple Springs; son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Debbie Vestal of Huntington; grandchildren and spouses, Laurie and Mark Selman, Kellie Smith, Kendra and Tony Brown, Bubba Warner and Shelly Havard, Kimberly Warner, Brandy and Dennis Hollingsworth, Allison and Robert Sosa, Rivers and Jason Hopson, Josette Sims, Samantha Sims, Lori Matthews, and Emily Arnold; 25 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; special friend, Betty Cochran of Central; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jerry Moore; son, Michael Vestal; daughter, Dee Renfroe; sons-in-law, Tommy Renfroe and Ronnie Warner; brothers, Earl McGilvra, Chester McGilvra, and Alvis McGilvra; sister, Ethel Jones; and special friend, Betty Simpson.

Pallbearers will be Bubba Warner, Dennis Hollingsworth, Mark Selman, Robert Sosa, Rett Smith, Tony Brown, and Jason Hopson.

Honorary pallbearers will be EM3 Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Warner and John White.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 151125, Lufkin, Texas 75915.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friday morning prior to the services.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed, at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.