Mary Frances Blankenship Moore

Mary Frances Blankenship Moore died peacefully at home of natural causes on June 1, 2024, in Nashua, NH, at age 92. She was born December 22, 1931, the tenth of eleven children of James Jefferson and Stella Minnie (Young) Blankenship.

Mary grew up in Narrows, Virginia in the hills of the New River Valley. During the depression, with the scarcity of jobs, the family moved to farm along the New River. When Mary was ten, the family moved back to Narrows, where she lived until graduating high school.

Mary married her husband Gerald T. Moore in 1952. She moved with him to Massachusetts where the couple raised 6 children. They landed in Bedford and in 1966, Gerald’s job took the family to Cologne, Germany where they lived for three years.

In 1968 the family moved to Glenview, Illinois, returning to Massachusetts in 1972 where they settled in Harvard. Mary’s later years were spent in Chelmsford, MA and finally Nashua, NH.

Mary sang in the town choirs of Bedford and Harvard, Massachusetts. She participated in college courses for a number of years at Rivier College in Nashua studying art, languages and writing. Her works of writing are witty, warm and insightful and are precious to her family. She was accomplished at flower arranging and enjoyed artisan egg decorating and painting.

Mary had a sunny disposition with a grateful attitude. Anyone who lighted at her door would receive a warm smile and greeting. Her southern background would come out with a “How you doin’ sugar?” or “What’s happening Darlin’. She was a bright spot in the lives of those around her. Mary cherished time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and will be remembered as a power of example with respect to her verve for life, nature and her devotion to family.

She is survived by children Susan M. Rogan (Robert), Mark O. Moore (Susan Lander), Leslie M. Dionne (Gary), Marianne Moore and grandchildren Samantha Rogan, Stephanie Rogan (Michael Masse), Krista Seaton (Jeremy), Dylan Moore, Ashley Moore (Tamas Javor), Sarah Petreyko, William Cook (Elizabeth) and Hannah Cook, and great grandchildren Jocelynn, Christopher, Alexander, Maya, Harvey, Michael and Millie Mae. Mary is predeceased by two of her children, David G. Moore and Sarah A. Moore, her siblings Clara, Anna Pauline, Stephen Edmond, Bill, James Jr., Lillian, Nellie May, Bessie H, Garland Wesley and Grover Chapman, and her husband of 35 years, Gerald T. Moore.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street in Milford, NH at 12 pm Tuesday, July 2nd.

Comments are welcome and may be submitted at the Smith & Heald Website.