On Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at the age of 95, Grace Moore left her earthly bonds headed for that great Thrift Shop in the sky, where those who loved her waited with open arms, including her parents Fred and Ruby Evans, two older brothers Norval and Charles Evans, first husband Harold Rudd, husband George Moore, along with her favorite and only son Don Rudd.
Grace was born March 10, 1923, in the tiny town of Metropolis, Illinois.
Those she left behind are her sister Opal Thorn of Palm Springs; daughter Pat Everman of Grants Pass, Oregon; two grandsons, Robert Rudd of Santa Barbara and Robert Everman of Grants Pass, Oregon; and two nieces, 1one nephew and numerous great-grandchildren.
Grace and her family eventually settled in Torrance in the early 1950s. She worked for the Bank of America until she retired in 1978.
The family had visited Idyllwild frequently during the ’60s and ’70s, and it seemed the logical place for George and Grace to retire. Both were active in the community, enjoying retirement, Grace working around town for shop owners, getting acquainted with the town. She joined the Idyllwild Community Church Women’s Guild and participated in its annual rummage sales, when an idea began to form.
Grace was years before her time in terms of recycling.She knew the community needed a place to discard their usable goods and an affordable place to shop, thus The Woman’s Guild Cottage Thrift Shoppe was born. Grace continued at its helm enjoying her customers and friends until she retired for the fourth and final time at the age of 92 and moved to Grants Pass, Oregon, with her daughter and family.
While Grace enjoyed her final days watching the beautiful Rogue River roll by, her heart remained in Idyllwild with her many friends and beloved thrift shop. Grace was 95 years young and never lost her sassy sense of humor or spunk. She touched many lives, accepted all, judged none. She will be missed.
The community is invited to a celebration and tribute honoring Grace from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Idyllwild Community Church Thrift Shop. Please join us for stories, remembrances and even a bit of shopping.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Grace’s memory be made to the Thrift Shop or Animal Rescue Friends of Idyllwild (her second love was her granddogs).
Gracie was our favorite Idyllwild friend, hands down. She welcomed my partner, Raymond, and me with an open heart. The bonus, however, was that she let us into her life and we reciprocated. Unconditional love is virtually non- existent where the term is most often spoken but Gracie lived it and, at times, she was judged for it. She told me. She practiced what so many others preach. We loved her and miss her. Her high pitched girlish laugh was sure to lift our spirits and hers. We kept in touch by phone with her in Oregon and we always were the better for it because by call’s end she lighted up, laughed, and expressed fond feelings for us and we her. She was our only excuse to go into town Thursday through Saturday! She remains our Grand Marshall in Idyllwild.