Notes:
Data source is Celia Moomaw Wells, e-mail jcwells@midusa.net
DIGHTON — Beverly Ann Moomaw, 73, died Sept. 16 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis campus in Wichita. Born Jan. 1, 1938 in Meade, she was the daughter of Berend H. and Hazel Ruby (Hill) Cordes. In 1956, she graduated from Meade High School and attended Emporia State University for one year. She transferred to Fort Hays State University for a year before her marriage. On June 7, 1958 she married Max Moomaw in Meade. She helped her husband on the family farm in Lane County while raising their family. After her children graduated, she went back to school and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from Fort Hays State University in 1980. She opened Moomaw Studio and Framing in Dighton.
Mrs. Moomaw was a member of the United Methodist Church of Dighton. She was president of Southwest Kansas Council on Aging and was active in her community by serving on the Lane County Hospital Board, a 4-H leader, starting the first Farm Bureau babysitting class, and a member of the Lane County Arts Council, PEO and EHU. She enjoyed making Barby doll clothes to sell at craft shows, painting, quilting, photography, reading, camping and attending her childrens’ and grandchildrens’ activities.
Survivors include her husband, Max Moomaw, of the home; a daughter, Celia Wells of Great Bend; two sons, Dan Moomaw and Mitch Moomaw, both of Dighton; a sister, Mona Dobbs of Haysville; and seven grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Dighton with the Rev. Warren Hett officiating. Burial will be at the Sutton Cemetery in Lane county. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church, Lane County Library or J.O.Y. Center in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be e-mailed to garnandfh@sbcglobal.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Boomhower Funeral Home*
145 North Wichita
Dighton, KS 67839
620-397-5792
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Sept. 20, 2011
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Published: 9/25/2011 2:24 PM | Last update: 9/26/2011 7:17 AM - By Kathy Hanks - The Hutchinson News - khanks@hutchnews.com
Woman was positive force for family, town
DIGHTON – Through the years so many residents sat in a chair in Bev Moomaw’s framing shop, seeking her advice and encouragement, her husband dubbed it “the psychiatrist’s chair.”
“She was there for everyone in town,” said Raylene West, a close friend who considered Moomaw a kindred spirit.
Bev Moomaw, 73, died Sept. 16 while hospitalized after hitting her head in a fall. Her family, friends, and community are reeling from her unexpected death.
She grew up on a farm in Meade County, where she learned to appreciate the outdoors. She preferred helping her father and showing cattle to working indoors.
When she married Max Moomaw on June 7, 1958, he had to teach her to cook. But she learned very well, according to her family.
The couple raised three children on their farm near Amy. Along with her husband, she is survived by a daughter Celia Wells, Great Bend; and two sons, Dan and Mitch Moomaw, both of Dighton; and seven grandchildren.
Her children were the center of her universe. Her family’s activities were her activities, said Dan Moomaw. She and Max served as leaders of the Amy Aggies 4-H club. She made Barbie doll clothes to sell at craft shows, using the proceeds to buy a tent and go on a family camping trip to Colorado. They organized ski trips for the youth group.
The United Methodist Church was also at the center of her life, and she was a Sunday school teacher for many years.
“She was at all our events,” Dan Moomaw said. She even purchased a camera and began learning photography so she could document those experiences. She continued photographing her grandchildren in their activities. In more recent years, she couldn’t head south in their fifth-wheel camper for a vacation until her grandson’s basketball season was completed.
Multitalented with a variety of interests, she remained the Moomaw family’s biggest champion.
“You could bring her a bag of dirt and it was the best bag of dirt she ever saw,” grandson Brent Moomaw said.
After her children were grown, she returned to Fort Hays State University and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in art education. However, instead of teaching she opened a framing shop on Main Street.
Eventually she closed the shop and took up painting, trading one passion for another.
Wherever there was a need, Moomaw was there to help get things coordinated, whether it was helping to start the annual “Something Special” event held in the community or raising funds for the church’s praise band drum set. She served on numerous boards and councils.
When her son Mitch was on the K-State rowing team, she noticed they competed with old wooden oars. It became her mission to get new oars for the team, the carbon-fiberglass type used by other colleges. Her name was placed on the first new oar purchased.
“She jumped in with me on anything I ever did,” Mitch Moomaw said. “I was really good friends with my mother. We got lucky. We were blessed with parents who were our good friends.”
While Moomaw taught her family and friends to pursue their passions, she also grounded them in the “Golden Rule,” treating others as you want to be treated.
She taught her family to keep their faith paramount.
“And it will make times like these easier,” Dan Moomaw said.