Viola M. Moore

Viola M. Moore passed away on January 30, 2017 at the age of 87. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, and mother. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Viola Ileana Martinez Moore, better known as Viola Moore, had been a barrier breaker. Viola had been the perfect representative of the Hispanic woman who has no limitations, a goal- getter, a catcher of dreams, and the best example for our community as a whole. If there is a word to express her life, it is, “excellent”. Mrs. Moore comes from a family of educators. Born in Zapata and a native of Laredo, Viola was a product of the Laredo Independent School District, attending Heights Elementary, Bruni Elementary, Christen Middle School, and finally Martin High School where she graduated 5th out of 300 classmates in 1947. Viola attended Laredo Junior college, obtaining an emergency teaching certificate from the State of Texas, and became an educator at the early age of 19. She began teaching at Zapata Independent School District and attending Texas A&I at Kingsville, now Texas A&M, on Saturdays. Her senior year, she transferred to our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio where she received a BA in English, Math and Education in 1953. Teaching in Venezuela after receiving a MA in 1956 was only one of her many accomplishments. Obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in the 1950’s was a remarkable achievement for Mrs. Moore, given that a woman, especially a Hispanic woman, rarely did so at that time in history. Mrs. Moore became the first female administrator of a 5-A high school and then later became the first female Hispanic principal of a 5-A high school in Texas. Upon Retirement from Laredo Independent School District, she served as principal at Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and served two terms as a board member for Laredo I. S. D. Mrs. Moore has received several awards and recognitions throughout the years. She had the new J. W. Nixon Band hall named after her. She was inducted into the Martin High School Tiger Legends Hall of Fame and received the TAMIU WAW Pathmaker/Abrecaminos award. She has inspired many members of the community and has become a vision of hope for those who have felt that choices are limited to create a better future for themselves. She has exhibited her undeniable dedication to the Laredo Community. Mrs. Moore has also served in several committees that award financial help to Laredo students in order to further their education and reward them for their accomplishments, feeding their desires to continue to make and reach their goals. She was a proud member of her parish San Martin De Porres Catholic Church and served in the Blessed Sacrament Altar Society. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leobardo Martinez and Maria Del Refugio Uribe Martinez; sister, Hilda Martinez Flores; and by her husband, Phillip N. Moore, Jr. Mrs. Moore is survived by her brother, Leobardo (Elma) Martinez; children, Christopher E. (P. J.) Moore, Diana Irene Moore (Richard) Dickenson, Mary Jo Moore; step-daughter, Phyllis Moore Gallagher. She is further survived by grandchildren, Jessica Ilene Moore, Alexandra Acevedo, Christopher E. Moore, Jr, Kimberly Michelle Moore, Iliana A. San Miguel, Carlos Patrick (Monica) Gallagher, Brett Anthony Gallagher; great granddaughter, Meagan Dunn, nieces, nephews and other relatives. A rosary will be recited on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hillside Funeral Home Chapel. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 3, 2017 at 9:40 a.m. from Hillside Funeral Home to San Martin de Porres Catholic Church. A communion service will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the family plot of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Many thanks to Generous Hospice staff, Dr. Humberto Varela, Dr. Francisco Pena, Doctors Hospital, and her caregivers, Luisa, Lydia, and Fina.