Imogene O. Moore

Imogene O. (Jean) Moore

Age 102, of Verona, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Preceded in death by her husband Lorenzo Dow Moore, her parents, and brother; mother of Joyce Moore (Bruce Golightly) and Nancy White; sister of the late Louis (Mary Jo) Otten; grandmother of Joseph (Jamie) White, Stella (Jesse) Hewitt, Elizabeth (Dave) Garman and Eleanor (Jon) Wilson; and their children and grandchildren: Josh and Emma Garman; Katrina and Lexi Hewitt; Leah, Evan, Josie, and Olivia White; Ariana, Oliver, Emma, Owen, and Liam Golightly.

Imogene was born on November 30, 1922, in Hannibal, Missouri, to Benjamin Otten and Mary (Ussie) Thomas.  She was raised on a dairy farm and loved growing things and animals, particularly a succession of seriously smart herd dogs all named Betty.

From a young age, she displayed a remarkable talent for music, particularly the violin, and participated in both band and orchestra during high school, earning a scholarship for her musical abilities to Hannibal LaGrange (then) College, earning an AA and a teaching certificate.  After graduating and teaching in tiny rural schools for a couple of years, she married Dow, her childhood sweetheart, a chemical engineer doing war work in New Jersey in 1943. Together, they had two daughters, Nancy and Joyce.

After years of moving around for work, to Kansas City, Cleveland, and quite a few years in Nashville, Jean and her husband settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1969. Together, they helped raise their grandson, Joseph White.

Jean and Dow lived happily in Pittsburgh for many years, with their daughters living close by in the area. They were blessed with four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.  Jean said goodbye to Dow at his passing in 2007.

After years of living on her own, Jean moved into a senior community in 2016. A cheerful person, she loved telling stories to her grandchildren and other residents, particularly of her childhood in Hannibal, but also of her children and other family members and animals.

She continued to nurture her love of music throughout her life, playing violin and viola in a trio with a local college orchestra in Nashville. Imogene took great pride in seeing her musical talent passed down to some of her grandchildren, with whom she remained actively involved. In addition to music, she had a passion for gardening and nature, sewing and needlework, and was known for her skills in the kitchen, where she delighted family and friends with her cooking.

With love from her family.

Services and interment are private and entrusted to English Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 378 Maryland Ave., Oakmont, PA 15139. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Audobon Society of Western Pennsylvania would be appropriate, being one of Jean’s favorite organizations.

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