Ruth Simmons Moore

Ruth Simmons Moore, 101, a resident of the Dry Valley Community, passed away Tuesday, June 25, 2019 in a local healthcare facility.  She was born on September 22, 1917 to the late Frank and Emma Baldwin Simmons.  Ruth was born and grew up in the Chatata Valley Community and attended local schools.  She was a graduate of Bradley Central High School where she was proud to be a member of the varsity Bradley Bearette basketball squad.

When she married John Moore and moved to the Dry Valley Community, they took on a dairy farm that had been in the Moore family for four generations at that time.  Ruth supported this endeavor with her good sense, her bookkeeping abilities and her quiet but firm care for her family.  The dairy still operates today. 

In the early years of her marriage she taught at the Chilcutt Grammar School and as her family grew with lifelong Baptist taught children’s Sunday School classes and served in many other capacities.  People loved attending any covered dish meal to which Ruth was contributing.  Ruth had been a member of First Baptist Church of Cleveland for the last twenty years.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, John Barnes Moore; their infant son, Bill Moore; sister, Ann Simmons Chase; and brothers, Hugh Lee Simmons and Clyde Simmons.

She is survived by her three children, Jack Moore and wife, Mary, Nancy Bechtel and husband Gary and Jim Moore and wife, Paula, all of Cleveland; grandchildren, Sarah (Jeff) Newman of Pauline, SC, Bill Moore of Estero, FL, Brian Bechtel of Jersey City, NJ, Beth (Travis) Howerton of Knoxville, Chad (Laura) Moore of Cleveland and Amanda (Clay) Richardson of Cleveland; eight great grandchildren, Hannah Newman, Daniel Newman, Sarah Beth Miser, Taylor Howerton, Tenley Richardson, Allie Richardson, John Luke Richardson and Emma Moore; one sister-in-law, Ann Suits of Cleveland; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 28, 2019 in the chapel of Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home with Pastor Tom Wickes officiating.  The interment will follow in Chatata Valley New Friendship Cemetery with Bill Moore, Chad Moore, Brian Bechtel, David Chase, Jeff Morelock and John Mark Moore serving as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Haun and Clay Richardson.

Her family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

The family would especially like to express appreciation to Lora Baker of Hearth Hospice for Ruth’s exceptional care in her final days.

Memorials may be made to the Chatata Valley New Friendship Cemetery Fund, c/o Jeff Morelock, 200 Blythe Ferry Road NE, Cleveland TN 37312 or to First Baptist Church, PO Box 2368, Cleveland TN 37320-2368.