Rena Narcissis Worley
b. 3 Feb 1874, d. 24 Sept 1972,
m. 25 Dec 1890 to William Joseph Moore
b. 8 Aug 1870, d. 6 July 1941
Both are buried in Causey Cemetery
Morehouse Parish, Louisiana

Joe Moore and Rena Worley were my g-grandparents
through their daughter Ruby Laborde and her 
daughter Gladys Dykes. They were also the
g-grandparents of more than a hundred others.

Evaluation of Joe Moore by his grandchildren:
"Joe Moore was a fine fella - 
He liked me and I liked him."

Evaluation of Rena Worley Moore
by children, grandchildren, and g-grandchildren:
I didn't ask em... but I can tell you what
every last one of them would say:
"Grandmaw was spoiled ROTTEN !"
...and I can testify that she WAS... LOL

Children of Joe Moore & Rena Worley:
Lola Mae   b. 22 Nov 1891   m. Lawrence Harrison
Maylor Etta   b. 3 Feb 1894   m. Howard Harrison
Ruby Inez   b. 20 July 1896   m. Emeric Laborde
Lovely Ozelle   b. 3 Nov 1899   m. James William Westbrook
Minnie Olivia  b. 6 June 1903  m. Clinton Elderidge Kitchens, Sr.
Leon David   b. 2 Aug 1907   m. Doshea Lema Goyne 
Thelma Irene   b. 5 May 1912   m. John Thomas Carpenter

There are no words for how much fun it was
growing up around the combination of Uncle
Lawrence, Horace, Uncle Howard, Atlas, Tump,
Lum, Uncle Willie, Frank, J.T., and Daddy. All of
my g-aunts were just as nice as could be...
and every single one of them was married to a
reasonably sane man... until they got together.
There was no way to imagine what they might
do next... or where they might end up. ...and
their poor wives went on about their business
as if nothing was happening. It seems as if 
Joyce used to try to control them... but even
she finally gave up and even joined in the
fun. I tried to figure out who was the "worst"
of the bunch... but I don't know... I think
Daddy and Uncle Lawrence were the most visible
... but I think Uncle Willie was the biggest
instigator. Either way, they were all just
wonderful. The people I really felt sorry
for were their "victims"... especially the
poor nurses who tried to take care of them.
Some of these men have passed away... but
I have to tell you, they were still 
carrying out practical jokes when they
were literally on their death beds. 


I was born when Grandmaw Moore was 73 years
old. She died when I was 25. She lived until
after both of my children were born –
and was still quilting.

Grandmaw Moore was a "hard-shell" Baptist. I have
no clue what that religion is all about. I did go
to church at that little church in the woods with her -
but there was a knothole in the wall... and I could
see outside - so, I am afraid that I pretty much
watched what was going on out in the woods and
daydreamed my way through the sermons.

I learned to quilt after Grandmaw Moore died. Shortly
before she passed away, I went to see her. She was
quilting, still using the magnifying glass I gave her
for Mother's Day when I was 9 years old. On this
particular occasion, I had to move the quilting off
of her bed just to find a place to sit. I said, "Oh
Grandmaw - I wish I could quilt." She replied, "You
can... if you'll slow down long enough." After she
died, I decided it was time to take her advice. Now,
I can make the prettiest "bow-tie" quilt top you
have ever seen.

Did you know that Grandpaw Moore played the fiddle?
He also valued education. His daughter, Ruby Inez,
was my Grandmaw Laborde. She graduated from
Northwestern Normal School (Now Northwestern State
University) and became a teacher - as have most of
our family. Grandpaw Moore felt that education was
so important that he started his own school bus
route with a buggy back before there was such a
thing as a school bus. He eventually drove a school
bus the rest of his life.

Our Genealogy Home Page

Descendants of Rebecca Moore

Webmaster: Carol Ann Dykes Scott
g-granddaughter of Joe Moore and Rena Worley