Last Updated 9/1/00

From the Freeport (IL) Journal Standard, Tues., November 25, 1986:

It'll be more n' more Moores
Grandma Moore to serve 50 'close' relatives Thanksgiving
by Lolita Ditzler, JS Correspondent

DURAND - Every year there are more and more Moores for Thanksgiving dinner but great-grandmother Rowena Moore says "it's no big deal," as she prepares for about 50 people this year.
    Rowena and her husband, Vern, who died 5 1/2 years ago, raised 15 children which probably accounts for her easy-going attitude and ready chuckle.
    "Vern's brother, Preacher (nobody knew his name was Ralph) was always with us so it made 18 at the table all of the time," Moore said.
    This year there are "45 grandkids, 21 great-grandkids and four more on the way."
    A few members of the family have strayed to Tennessee, Texas, Colorado, and Virginia and cannot always make the trip back but most of them live within 100 miles of their old home.
    "Some of them come for Thanksgiving and some come for Christmas," Moore said. "They have to go to the other side, too."
    For about 12 years, holiday dinners have been held at the Masonic Hall. "We just got too big for the house," Moore said.
    Moore fixes the basics for the meal and everybody else brings a dish to pass.
    "I'll get a 20 pound turkey, at least, and a 10 pound ham," she said. "I'll fix the potatoes and the coffee and whatever else I feel like doing at the last minute. Depends on how the mood strikes me or if someone is hungry for something."
    Moore doesn't have a lot of time to fuss over dinner. Last Friday was the senior citizens funtime potluck and Monday she helped distribute the surplus federal commodities to those who qualified for them.
    She and her friend, Marie Patterson, are also very active members of the Eastern Star and travel to other chapters in the area.
    "Nearly every night we're on the road," Moore said. "We go from Sterling-Rock Falls to Roscoe to Apple River."
    During the past year, Moore visited Hawaii with 43 other lodge members, flew to Dallas to spend time with her youngest son, David, and celebrated her 70th birthday with a big picnic in Saelens Park.
    On Thanksgiving morning Moore will go to the hall at 7 to prepare for the day. Three of her sons who live in town will set up tables.
    "I'll probably start the turkey the day before and finish it that morning," she said.
    She makes her own stuffing but relies on the convenience of instant potatoes, canned ham and disposable plates and cups.
    "I don't know what we did before somebody invented paper plates," she said.
    After dinner, there's just coffee pots and silverware to wash. The rest of the time will be spent playing cards and visiting.
    "We just enjoy getting together," Moore said, "We catch up on everybody's family and what everybody's been doing."
    Moore hasn't always been part of a large family. She was a lonely, only child when she decided she wanted to have a lot of kids.
    "My parents parted when I was 10 years old," she said. "I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. I always told Grandma I was going to have a dozen. I overshot the field a little. Grandma said, 'You must be out of your tree.'"
    Moore is glad she carried through with her early plan.
    "They're a great family," she said. "I'm pretty proud of them."

Rowena Moore, preparing a dinner for 50.
Lolita Ditzler photo

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Genealogy of Stephen R. Moore - Article on Rowena Moore and Thanksgiving 1986 © 2000 Stephen R. Moore, 8504 Enochs Dr., Lorton, VA 22079