Nov. 17, 1926– Nov. 7, 2025
Emma Rose Moore, mother of MG (Mrs. Ray) Brown, Bessie, and former resident of Cordell Baptist Village 20162020, died Nov. 7th at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. A Celebration of Life was held Saturday, Nov. 15th, at First Baptist Church in Vinita, Okla, under the care of Burckhalter-Highsmith Funeral Home. Interment followed at Fairview Cemetery.
Emma Rose was born Nov. 17, 1926, at home to Wright and Rosa Dupree of Vinita, living on their Cherokee allotment. She began her journalism career while in high school, working afternoons at the Vinita Daily Journal during her senior year. She was graduated as valedictorian from Vinita High School in 1944, and then continued her education at Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, and the University of Oklahoma, from which she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. Later she took post graduate classes at Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, and graduate courses at Kansas State University, Pittsburg, and the University of Oklahoma.
Emma Rose knew various journalistic responsibilities all through college and throughout her life. She married Dan Kirk Moore in 1949, and then worked for the Oklahoman and Times, and the Oklahoma Baptist General Convention in Oklahoma City. Returning (for her) to Vinita, the young family numbered four. Journal publisher O.B. Campbell persuaded her to work for him part -time with hours that allowed her to be home when her children were. Later, another child was born at Vinita.
Always active in the community, she was a Cub Scouts Den Mother, and involved in 4-H; Parent- Teacher Organization; Home Demonstration Club (now, Home and Community Education); American Association of University Women -- later, Green Country University Women; and others. Additionally, she served tirelessly at the First Baptist Church, teaching every age group from nursery to nursing home, and in various other capacities.
Her daughter says, “Mother accepted Christ as her Savior when she was young, and that decision guided her in everything she did.”
During her middle-aged years, Emma Rose obtained her secondary teaching certificate and taught English for seven years at Vinita. She then taught adult education where she served as director of public information at Eastern State Hospital (before it became a Department of Corrections facility).
Increasingly involved in community causes, acting as scribe and historian in most, Emma Rose received many awards including recognition from the Association for Women in Communications and listing in the Vinita Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. A community dinner meeting of the Cherokee Nation on her 89th birthday honored her achievements as one of their citizens, complete with a proclamation. In September 2016, to be closer to her daughter, she moved from her hometown on Emma Rose Moore Day as designated in a mayoral proclamation.
Survivors include: three children, Mary Gail Brown and husband Ray, Bessie, Okla., Curtis Moore and wife Kay, Edmond, Glen Moore and wife Jeri, Owasso; nine grandchildren: Melanie Denton and husband Brandon, Steve Brown and wife Jessica, Ryan Brown and wife Tara, Grant Brown and wife Jeree, Jessica Moore and husband Will Rice, Dennis Moore and wife Elizabeth Weaver, Derek Moore, Robert Moore and wife Betsy, and Jillian Moore; 23 great-grandchildren; one nephew, and four nieces.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, Dan K. Moore; infant son, David K. Moore; brother Louis Dupree; and sisters Frances Frost and Mary Jo Jones; and brother-in-law John L. Frost.