IDA LOU MOORY,

age 90, of Jacksonville, passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2024. She was born in Wattensaw, Ark., to the late Howard and Myrtle Highfill. Ida’s early years were spent with her younger sister, Joy Faye Duke, and older brother, H.G. Highfill. She loved and was so proud of her large extended family of relatives: the White’s, Jones’, Highfill’s, and McMichael’s, of Lonoke County. Ida Lou attended Carlisle Public Schools, where she met her first lifelong best friend, Betty Perkins Lott, on the first day of first grade, where they discovered they shared among many things, their August 8, 1933 birthday! Always excelling in school, she also had great talents in cooking and sewing, which naturally led her to choose a career in Home Economics education. Ida Lou was awarded a full scholarship to start her college studies at the University of Arkansas in Monticello. She continued her studies at the University of Central Arkansas (Teacher College) receiving her bachelor’s degree in education. Later, she returned to her studies and received a master’s degree in education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Moving to Dewitt, Ark. to start her teaching career, she met and married fellow educator, Johnny Moory, and began a role she cherished most of all: mother to her four children. She and Johnny moved their young family to Jacksonville, Ark., in 1963, where she taught traditional home economics and later, occupational home economics, at Jacksonville High School, until her retirement in 1987. She took great joy in her position as a teacher and as a national FHA consultant during the late 1970’s. Ida Lou was active in the Methodist Church her entire life. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville Ark., for over sixty years, singing in the choir, leading youth groups, and teaching various classes through the years. It is noted, she provided many memorable and delicious Sunday snack suppers for the Methodist Youth Fellowship crowd! She is survived by her four children: John Paul Moory, of New York City, Susan Holliday, of Little Rock, Todd (Julie) Moory, of Sherwood, and Sara (Jamie) Cobb, of Maumelle. She is also survived by four beloved grandchildren: Courtney Cobb, Camille (Sean) Rumery, Chase (Mariah) Cobb, and Steven Moory. She was blessed with seven great-grandchildren: Corbin, Bella, Elijah, Audrie, Liam, Tommy, and Benny.

Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m . Wednesday, January 10th 2024, at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home with Reverend Melanie Tubbs officiating. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m., prior to the service at the funeral home. Entombment will follow at Chapel Hill Mausoleum. The family would like to give special thanks to the staff of Fox Ridge Assisted Living, in North Little Rock, for the wonderful care given to Mrs. Moory. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home & Crematory. (501) 9822136. www.mooresjacksonillefuneralhome.com.