BLANCHE MONTGOMERY MOORE
of Little Rock passed away on October 15, 2023. She was born on May 17, 1941 in Helena, Ark., the daughter of Shelby Vance Montgomery and Blanche Maners Montgomery. Helena was a wonderful small town to grow up in, especially with an older sister, June Gayle, whom she idolized, and a twin brother, Vance with whom she always shared a close relationship.
Blanche was valedictorian and Vance was salutatorian of the Helena-West Helena Central High School class of 1959 and both attended the University of Arkansas. Blanche joined Chi Omega Fraternity and transferred in her junior year to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to complete a B.S. Pharmacy degree, along with her brother. Again, they graduated first and second in the class. Blanche said that having a twin brother was like always being married, having someone who put you first and made sure you were taken care of.
In 1963, Blanche married her high school sweetheart, Warren Witt, who tragically died two years later in a plane crash. She worked as a pharmacist at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff until marrying Beadle Moore in 1969. They moved to Tucson, Ariz., where she worked at Tucson Medical Center, returning to Little Rock in 1973.
Back in Arkansas, Blanche became involved in political campaigns and served on the boards of Arkansas Arts Center and Arkansas Repertory Theatre, as well as volunteering in the public schools in the Green Circle Program. She was president of the Fine Arts Club.
In 1990, she joined Arkansas Children’s Hospital as vice-president for Governmental Affairs, a job she loved. Having no children of her own, she felt gratified to be able to serve Arkansas children in this way.
After retiring in 1999, she volunteered as a docent at the Arkansas Arts Center and the Clinton Library when it opened. She served again on the board of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre and was vice-president of the Aesthetic Club.
Blanche loved dancing, playing her piano, golf, bridge, Mah-jongg and traveling. But most of all she loved the devotion and companionship of Beadle, her husband of 51 years.
She is survived by her brother, Vance Montgomery (Terry), sisterin-law Liz Dewar (Bobby) and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Gloria Lercher for her devotion to Blanche and to her neighbors Pat and Jim McClelland, for walking this walk with us. Also, to her group of friends who allowed her to be active in the things she enjoyed for such a long time.
A memorial service will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 11 a.m. followed by a reception. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, Ark. 72203. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com.