Dr. MARTHA MAY MOORE,
age 74, of Little Rock, Ark., passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024, from complications of cancer and pneumonia.
Martha was born in Oxford, N.C. on February 17, 1949, to Dr. E. Leon Moore from Blackshear Georgia and Dorothea (McNeal) Moore from Macon County Illinois. She attended Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, Md.
Martha received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Western Maryland College and her PhD in Genetics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she met her husband of 40 years, Terry D. O’Brian.
Martha was an internationally recognized expert in the use of genetic toxicology data in chemical hazard identification and mode of action, particularly as they relate to cancer risk assessment. She worked for 23 years with the US Environmental Protection Agency in North Carolina, 13 years with the US Food and Drug Administration’s National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson, Ark., and 6 years at Ramboll US Corporation, Little Rock, Ark. She more recently founded her own toxicology consulting firm.
Martha was a member of the Society of Toxicology, the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society, the Genetic Toxicology Association, and the European Environmental Mutagen Society. She received the Genetic Toxicology Association Excellence in Science Award in 2011. Martha has published more than 130 journal articles, papers and chapters.
More importantly, Martha was a friend to budding scientists from around the world, particularly from China. She sponsored many students from abroad to study in her lab in Arkansas.
Martha was a loving wife to her husband Terry and sister to her brother Sam. She was accomplished in many aspects of living, from camping, kayaking, golf, and gardening to sewing and baking. Her mind was always working on how to do things better and why things work the way they do. She used her considerable skills to take care of those around her in all aspects of her life. She was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Little Rock.
She is survived by her husband Terry D. O’Brian, of Little Rock Ark., brother Samuel L. Moore of Madison, Wisconsin, Sister in law Susan (O’Brian) D’Angelo of Long Island, Brother in Law Mickey O’Brian of N.Y., and 23 first cousins (mostly from Southeast Georgia and North Florida): David Moore, Cecilia (Moore) Turner, Kester Moore, Cynthia (Moore) Guinn, Kenny Moore, Zelda (Moore) McNeal, Iris (Tuten) Strickland, Larry Tuten, Diane (Waldron) Whitaker, Brenda (Waldron) Burney, Wayne Waldron, Sandra (Waldron) Stone, Norma Jean (Tuten) Napier, Gail (Tuten) Hargreaves, Daniel Tuten, Terry (Adcock) Johnson, Dr. Debra Moore, Deborah Moore, Sherrie (Moore) Mullis, Anita (Moore) Jones, Michael Moore, Kevin Moore and Brian Moore.
First Cousins preceding her in death are: Sylvia (Moore) Dawson, Barbara Ann Tuten, and Glenda Tuten.
A Celebration of Life is planned on Saturday February 3, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4501 Rahling Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72223. Memorial services will take place, at a later date, in Blackshear, Ga., and Decatur, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock, Ark.
The Roller-Chenal Funeral Home of Little Rock, Ark. is assisting the family. To sign the online guest book, please visit, www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.