Barbara Davis Moore died peacefully at her home in Amelia Island, Fla., on July 22, 2017, surrounded by family and her beloved golden retriever Boomer. She was 76 years old and lived a wonderful life.
Born on December 8, 1940 in Altus, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Betty (Banker) and John Marsh Davis. She loved her horse Silver and was a tomboy (the only kindergartener wearing jeans in the school picture). She attended Altus High School and was a Bull Dog cheerleader throughout high school and football queen.
After spending a year at Mt. Vernon College in Washington D.C., she attended the University of Oklahoma, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi. A lifelong Sooner fan, she followed every game.
As a young adult, she traveled throughout Europe and to Asia. Seeing the world helped develop her adventurous spirit and design sense.
In January 1964, she married her high school sweetheart, Richard W. Moore Jr. They were married for over 20 years. While her husband was deployed with the U.S. Navy, she earned her teaching credential at San Francisco State University and spent time living in San Francisco, with her brother John and cousin Jane Reddick. She told wonderful stories about her first job as a teller at Wells Fargo.
After Mr. Moore left the Navy, they relocated to New York City, where for several years Mrs. Moore taught elementary school at Trinity School, an independent college preparatory school.
Barbara and Richard moved to Bronxville, where they started a family. Always there for her children, she spent her free time playing tennis and learning to cook by watching Julia Child’s TV show. An early adopter of technology, she was one of the first to have a TV in her car to entertain her children on long road trips.
In 1986, Barbara and family moved to Rye, where she invested her energy in remodeling her 1917 home.
It was in Rye that she met Janice Bratches. They became immediate friends and developed a passionate love for one another.
Barbara and Janice renovated and created their first home in Ridgefield, Conn., which was a retreat for their friends, family, and golden retrievers. Barbara loved to entertain. In 1997, ready for her next project, Barbara and Janice moved to Amelia Island. Their home quickly became a gathering place.
A breast cancer survivor, Barbara lived life as she wanted to. She was an example of courage and strength. She always had a strong opinion and wasn’t afraid to share it, as her friends know well. Barbara had fire in her and was loved for it.
Above all, she was fiercely loyal. She was the biggest fan of her children, Katy and Rich, their spouses, and her grandchildren. “Barbara was an amazing mother, grandmother, best friend, and loving partner,” said her family.
In addition to Janice Bratches, her partner of 27 years, she is survived by her children, Kathryn Davis and Richard W. Moore III and their spouses HoShin and Laurie; her grandchildren Jane, Luke, and Frankie. She also leaves behind her extended family: Jane and Ernest Reddick, Judy and Guy Bacon, Liz and Bob Daily, Julie and Tom Haas, Daryl and Bob Finn, Beth and David Conley, Kyle and Mark Finnegan, and their children.
