Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy
On Saturday, Oct. 11, friends and family of Gale Moore, who was the founder and publisher of the Glenwood Gazette and the Forever Frontier travel guide to west Texas, southern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona, gathered at the Glenwood Community Park to celebrate her life.
Gale Lynette Moore, 1947-2014, was born and raised in Texas, moved to Silver City in the 1990s, where she became an influential part of the historic Southwest. Her publications promoted the rural lifestyle and the frontier nature of the Southwest. In 2009, she was recognized as the Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year.à^
When she was found the morning of Aug. 8, 2014, the Glenwood Gazette had been in print for the past 14 years. It was her passion, and she put the small town on the map with the Dutch Oven Cookoff held each year in April The proceeds from the cookoff and the subsequent yearly cookbooks benefitted the park for improvements.
She is survived by her "almost sister" cousin, Sharon (Ron) Wilkening and their children Jason, Julie and Ginger. Other survivors include cousin Mick (LaDonna) Casaday and their children Chris, Tiffany and Tim of Texas, as well as an aunt Katherine Snell and cousin Connie of Arizona.
Close to 100 people from the Silver City area, Glenwood area, and southeastern Arizona attended the celebration of life. Copper and Frisco Cowbelles provided the beef, and side dishes were brought by attendees.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
Gale Moore was one of the founders and was the organizer behind each year's Dutch Oven Cookoff held in Glenwood in April. The memorialize her contributions to the park, which benefitted from each year's proceeds from the cook off, a Dutch oven was place in a circle with some of Gale's plants.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
Gale collected heart-shaped rocks. These are a few from her collection.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
The playground equipment was acquired as a result of Gale's efforts, so the playground was named after her.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
Lance Huff, arborist Bill Cook from Duncan Arizona, and Christin Sell prepare the hole to plant a blue spruce tree that came from Gale's front yard.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
A lovely early fall day as seen from the Glenwood Community Park.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
Childhood photos of Gale Moore.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
More photos of Gale, with her cousin, Sharon, at top and with friends over the years.
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Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
A younger photo of Gale when she first discovered the Mogollon mountains and Glenwood, NM.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
The tree is in place. Beth Menczer, at right, the organizer of the celebration of life, helps put the tree into the hole.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
Bill Cook steadies the tree as Gale's cousin, Sharon Wilkening, helps fill the hole with dirt.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
More of Gale's friends shovel dirt around the tree.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
Sharon, center, with her husband, Ron, on the left, prepares to place some of Gale's ashes around the base of the tree.
Gale Moore Celebration of Life in Glenwood
One of Gale's long-time friends, Marcia Carlson, poses beside Gale's Dutch Oven memorial.
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