Clara L. Petefish Moore

Funeral services for Clara L. Petefish Moore, 89, Lawrence, will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Central United Methodist Church in Lawrence. Burial will follow in Twin Mound Cemetery in western Douglas County.Mrs. Moore died Thursday, July 3, 2008, at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor.She was born Aug. 6, 1918, in Richland, the daughter of James T. and Ethel Talley Petefish. She graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in Lawrence in 1936. She attended Emporia State Teachers College and received a life certificate to teach in public schools in the state of Kansas. She also received a bachelor’s degree in elementary and secondary biology in 1951 and a master’s degree in biology in 1956 from Emporia State Teachers College. Mrs. Moore started the first special education class of 15 students in 1951.Mrs. Moore later transferred to Cordley School to teach fourth grade. She was principal of Matney, Richland Grade School and the Dawson Grade School in Shawnee County. She had taught in Kansas and Colorado for more than 32 years. She was a life member of the National Education Association, Kansas Retired Teachers Association and Clinton Historical Association. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Iota Teaching Sorority and Emporia State Teachers Alumni Association. She was a past noble grand of Friendship Group of the Rebekah Friendship Lodge 75. Mrs. Moore was also a member of the Martha Circle at Central United Methodist Church, Daughters of the American Revolution Betty Washington chapter in Lawrence, and The Grange in Twin Mound, where she was named senior citizen of the week. She was an educator who sponsored scholarships at Emporia State University for Biology Students. She was a longtime member of the Central United Methodist Church.She married Wesley O. Moore Sr. in Lawrence. He died March 23, 1975.Survivors include a stepdaughter, Della Diveley, Severance; 10 stepgrandchildren; 18 stepgreat-grandchildren; a stepgreat-great-grandson; and many cousins.The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary.The family suggests memorials to Central United Methodist Church or the Lawrence Presbyterian Manor Good Samaritan Fund, sent in care of the mortuary.Online condolences may be sent at www.warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Moore.