My mother-in-law, Lorena Moore, 85, went home to be with the Lord today at 6:23 p.m. after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Her children and grandchildren gathered at her home (which is an addition attached to ours) this past weekend to say their goodbyes and encourage her spirit by singing the great hymns of the Christian faith that she loved so much. She stepped into eternity right as we were singing “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” specifically at the line, “Fought the fight the battle won. Alleluia.” 

What a gift that moment was. My mother, Cherie Valentino, passed away as we were singing “O Holy Night,” specifically at the line, “Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices.” My father-in-law, Pastor Keith Moore, passed away as we were singing, “Victory in Jesus,” specifically at the line, “And I heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea; about the angels singing….” These are sacred moments we will never forget.

Thank you for praying God’s comfort over our family at this time. And thank you, local friends, for supporting us these past several months as we’ve tried to care for Lorena in view of her homegoing. We are comforted by the life-changing gospel truths we celebrate this time of year—Jesus, our Emmanuel, “God with us.”

Mild He lays His glory by 
Born that man no more may die 
Born to raise the sons of earth 
Born to give them second birth

Lorena’s other son-in-law, John, wrote an obituary, which I will share below.

We wish everyone a joyful Christmas. Ours will be merry since Lorena is now fully and finally home for the holidays.

Lorena Pearl Moore, neé Taylor, 85, of Myerstown, Pennsylvania passed peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus on December 18, 2023 in Myerstown surrounded by her loving family and finally freed from the prison of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Lorena’s life was one of blessings redeemed from hardship. Throughout her life, when asked how she was, she would say, “I’m blessed!” She was a gifted teacher, dedicated mentor, devoted chaplain, faithful wife, loving mother and sister, and doting grandmother. Her greatest joy in life was her Savior, seen in her devotion to the Bible by studying, teaching, and living the Word of God at every opportunity. Lorena shared God’s love in moments of conversation and small acts of love that make up relationships that last. Next to her Lord, her family occupied the greatest part of her heart and time. 

Lorena was born on May 27, 1938, and grew up on the family farm in Connelly Springs, North Carolina, with parents Lester and Bertie (Miller) Taylor. The sixth of sixteen siblings, Lorena assumed the responsibilities of caring for the home and her younger siblings following her mother’s passing in March 1954. This experience shaped her, making her eager to accept and fulfill demanding responsibilities throughout her life. 

In honor of her mother’s high value for education, Lorena completed high school and earned degrees from Warren Wilson and Carson-Newman Colleges. Following a call to ministry, she earned a Master’s degree in Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, where she met her husband Keith, a native of Lampasas, Texas. After their graduations and marriage in 1962, she labored with Keith in his calling as a home missionary for the Southern Baptist Convention, planting churches in Marietta and Cambridge, Ohio and the Wheeling and Martinsburg areas of West Virginia. Following Keith’s death in 2000, Lorena continued her ministry as a workplace chaplain in Hagerstown, Maryland and Greencastle, Pennsylvania. She retired in 2005, returning to Burke County, North Carolina until she moved to Myerstown in 2019. 

She was predeceased by her husband Keith Moore, her brothers Troy and Zane Taylor, and her sister Nena Ann Taylor. She leaves behind her three children and their families: Sonya (Tim) Valentino of Myerstown, Joan (John) Mason of Wilmington, Delaware, and Joel (Donna) Moore of Aberdeen, North Carolina, along with five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She is also missed by her sisters Helena (widow of Fred) Hanna, Alta (Grant) Crocker, Leathia (Jon) Conrow, Maxine (widow of Jim) Cooke, and Ermine (Rick) De Yarman, and her brothers Tommy Taylor, Doug (Brenda) Taylor, Maynard (Shirley) Taylor, Philip (Berneice) Taylor, Ronnie (Judy), Tony (Judith) Taylor, and Earnie (Gunda) Taylor.

The family will receive guests, on Saturday, December 30 at First Baptist Church of Hildebran, North Carolina, beginning at 1:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 3:00 p.m. A service of remembrance will also be held in Hildebran in June 2024 before the start of the triennial family reunion. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to The North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention https://www.namb.net/give/ or to The Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/.