Melba Whittier Moore was born August 13, 1922 in Declo, Idaho, and died August 17, 2017 shortly after her 95th birthday. She was the sixth of nine children born to Raymond Madsen Whittier and Opal Hulet Whittier. She spent her childhood days on the family farm in Rockland, Idaho. Although those were depression era days, she had great memories of the family farm and of growing up with her siblings. She began her career at the telephone office in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and was working on the switchboard December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was bombed. She remembered how “the switchboard lit up like a Christmas tree.” During World War II, she worked at the Arsenal in Ogden and married her “soldier,” Ezra Hudson Moore. She and Ezra had two daughters, Ramona and Connie.

Upon Ezra’s return from military service in Germany and Japan, they took advantage of the GI Bill, which allowed Ezra to study at Brigham Young University and at Utah State Agricultural College (which became Utah State University). Ezra’s career in public education took them to American Falls, Moreland, and Soda Springs, Idaho. In Soda Springs Melba took classes toward a teaching degree and began her career in elementary education. She later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Utah State University. While she was teaching in Soda Springs, she had a third child, Richard (Rick). Subsequent moves took them to Burley and finally to Boise, Idaho, where she lived for the last 48 years. In each of these places she was a passionate and committed elementary school teacher who dearly loved her students. She took great pleasure in teaching children to read and in seeing them grow.

Ezra died in 1994 and Melba later married Borton Lee Conklin, who preceded her in death in 2005.

The joy of Melba’s life was caring for those she loved. She loved many people, including her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, friends, neighbors, students, and colleagues. She loved doing good, having fun, and joking with those around her. Her personal generosity, sense of humor, and life of abundant service endeared her to everyone she knew.

Her later years were spent in Morningstar Assisted Living. Her family is overwhelmingly grateful for the loving care that she received from many people throughout her life, especially in her final years. Special thanks go to the dedicated staff at Morningstar and at Compassus Hospice.

She is survived by her children, Ramona Erickson (Randy) of Caldwell, Idaho, Connie Mecham (Robert, deceased) of Logan, Utah, and Dr. Richard Moore (Niquel Thurber) of Boise, Idaho, as well as 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, her brother Karl and sister-in-law Shirley Whittier, and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Ramona, LaRee and Carol, as well as her brothers, James Chester (Bud), Max, LaMar, Homer and their spouses.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, August 26, 11:30am, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 8620 West Goddard Road, Boise, Idaho. A viewing will be held prior to the service beginning at 10:00am. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Relyea Funeral Chapel.

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