Arlene Joyce (Brown) Moore

Arlene Joyce Moore, daughter of the late Claude and Murial Brown, passed peacefully at age 95 on September 16, 2023.  She was born on September 10^th, 1928, in Battle Creek and attended Battle Creek Central High School. Upon moving to Florida, she became a student at Hillsborough High School in Tampa and graduated in 1946.

While in Tampa she completed a Western Union School diploma in Automatic Operator. She was recruited to work for Western Union and dispatched to Los Angeles for additional training. She enjoyed living in LA, but when a family emergency emerged her family requested her return to Michigan. She found clerical work and later met Robert F. Moore whom she married on March 30^th, 1951.  They moved to Mount Clemens where he was stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base and she became a secretary at the base.

They subsequently returned to Battle Creek where they settled in and eventually had three children.  She was employed as a receptionist at Battle Creek Family and Children Services where she remained for twenty years.  Arlene, together with her husband, was a lifelong member of the Battle Creek First Presbyterian Church. She was engaged in many activities there and served on the Sew and Sews Committee.  She and Bob enjoyed cross-country skiing, sailing, and travelling. Over the years they visited most of the 50 states and toured Europe and Alaska.  They also enjoyed sailing on Lake Michigan where they kept a boat in South Haven for 17 years. Bob and Arlene were married for 71 years.

Bob preceded her in death in June of 2022.  She is survived by her three children – Gary R. Moore of Durham, North Carolina, Jeffrey W. Moore of Holly, Michigan, and Janice L. Bockmeyer of Brooklyn, New York; two grandchildren – Emily Bockmeyer and Anton Bockmeyer, both of Brooklyn, New York – and two step grandchildren – Emily Bate of Montpelier, Vermont and Alice Bate of Dearborn Heights, Michigan; a great step grandson – Isaac Noriega also of Dearborn Heights, Michigan and a sister, Ardith Ratoskey of Hickory Corners.

A service to celebrate Arlene’s life will be officiated by Rev. Lorenzo R. Small, Sr. 1:30 p.m. Friday, September 22, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church, 111 Capital Avenue N.E., Battle Creek, MI 49017. Committal and inurnment will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery 12:00 p.m. Friday, September 22, 2023.