Obituary of Mary-Phyllis Moore

Mary-Phyllis Moore, 86, of Jamestown died Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012 at the home of her niece in Cheektowaga, NY. She was born April 25, 1925 in Jamestown, the daughter of the late George W. and Vindetta Newville Moore, and graduated from Jamestown High School in 1942. She had attended Alfred Cooperative Extension and graduated from Miami University in 1946 where she belonged to the Sorority of Sociology Honor Group. She also took graduate classes at the University of Buffalo and St. Bonaventure University. In earlier years, Mary-Phyllis worked as a caseworker for the Jamestown Department of Public Welfare and later as a child welfare worker for the NY State Department of Public Welfare office in Jamestown. Following her retirement, Mary-Phyllis volunteered extensively. She had served as a Library Literacy Tutor at the Prendergast Library and volunteered for 8 years in the "special friend" program of Headstart of South County where she became a classroom volunteer. With no children of her own, she was known as "Aunt Mary" and "Grandma Mary" to many children important in her life. She was a Volunteer Mediator for the Chautauqua County Dispute Settlement Center for 13 years, recording secretary for Reach Out Ministries and active in RSVP. She was the recipient of CASA's Volunteer of the Year award in 2009. A voracious reader, Mary-Phyllis also enjoyed gardening, dogs and cats, and singing. She had sung with the St. John Church choir, Jamestown Choral Society chorus and the Chautauqua Choir over the years. Surviving are her cousins Garth (Betty) Secor of Jamestown and Harriet Carlson of Frewsburg. As companion to the late Tuby L. Scarpino for over 30 years, Mary-Phyllis has several dear nieces and nephews from this long relationship that survive her. The funeral will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Tim Phelps, Hospice Chaplain, will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Friends will be received from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. prior to the service Friday in the funeral home.