March 22, 1932 - December 2, 2012 BETHANY Nelda Faye Meador Rawlings Moore, of Bethany, Oklahoma, departed this earthly life on Sunday, December 2, 2012, from Dallas, Texas, for her eternal home in Heaven. Nelda was born on March 22, 1932, in Abernathy, Texas, to Rev. Amos Robert and Ruby Mayola Dickson Meador. Nelda attended schools in the Texas towns of Electra, Sweetwater, and Wellington before her family moved to Borger, Texas. It was with her beloved "49's" that she graduated from Borger High School in May of 1949. Nelda graduated from Frank Phillips College in 1951. While there, she was active in the choir, as a Plainsman cheerleader and a member of the Delta Sigma Psi sorority.Education was always an integral part of Nelda's life. In May 1953, she graduated from Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, Oklahoma, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. A Master's of Education degree was awarded to her from Minnesota State University, in Mankato, Minnesota, in 1973. She was a member of the National Education Association, Oklahoma Education Association and Delta Kappa Gamma. Nelda taught school in Texas, New Mexico, New York, and Oklahoma. Her long, award-winning teaching career began in the fall of 1953 and continued until her retirement in 1993. Those 40 years as a public school teacher touched the lives of thousands of children. Booker T. Washington once said, "Excellence is doing a common thing in an uncommon way." This would describe how Nelda taught ? in an uncommon way, exhibiting excellence! On June 26, 1953, Nelda married Elden E. Rawlings in Borger, Texas. This union was blessed with two sons, Michael Scott and Stephen Mark. They were the absolute joy of her life! Nelda was married again on April 24, 1993, to Ray H. Moore in Bethany, Oklahoma. Together, they traveled the world and enjoyed their "senior years" making many happy memories. For those of you who knew Nelda, you do not have to be told that she was a Christian. She lived it on a daily basis. Her service to others was a top priority to Nelda throughout her life. She exemplified this as a lifelong member of the Church of the Nazarene. From an early age, Nelda served her church by singing in the church choir, teaching Sunday school, acting as a youth leader, participating in the senior ministries, and faithfully helping as a volunteer at one of the compassionate ministries in Oklahoma City, "ROC- Reach Our City." To Nelda, being a member of a church meant to participate and not just to attend.If you listened closely, you often could have heard Nelda's father describe her as "one of God's great women." And she was! This was an outstanding compliment, especially, coming from your family who knows you best. You could always depend on Nelda to see the positive side of life. She had a strong will to succeed and a determination to keep life in order. All this was sprinkled with a clever sense of humor. Nelda was an organizer, a doer, a planner, a financial wizard, an innovator and a creator. She could put together a four-course meal from a box of Kraft Dinner and crackers in less than thirty minutes, complete with candles. Her favorite foods were anything that was spicy hot and crunchy. Her boys loved her chocolate chip cookies and all the special things she provided for them, even though they often came through her sacrifice. She was their strongest advocate, and like a true Mother, she felt great pride in them. Nelda's grandchildren, Michelle, Jessica, Shelby and Gunnar, became her new playmates. Never have grandchildren loved their Nana more than Nelda's loved her. She played with them, sang with them, read to them, traveled with them and always praised them for their accomplishments. Her encouragement reinforced the goals they set for themselves. Someday, they will relive the relationship with their Nana by telling their children the treasured stories about her. Nelda's entire family ? her son, grandchildren, sisters and brother feel their loss profoundly.In Heaven, the welcoming committee for Nelda was led by her son, Stephen Mark; her husbands, Elden and Ray; her parents, Amos and Mayola; brothers, Douglas Eugene and Bobby Joe; and her sister, Ruth Vermell. Also, there were brothers-in-law, Bill Gasaway and Thomas Fabian; and sister-in-law, Johnnie Meador Wright.Family members who survive her include: her son, Michael Scott Rawlings (Micki); grandson, Gunnar Scott Rawlings; granddaughters, Lauren Michelle Rawlings, Jessica Megan Mostaffa (Harley), Shelby Nicole Downing (Blake); daughter-in-law, Kelly Rawlings Peters; her stepchildren, Harlan Moore (Barbi), Phil Moore (Donna), Kathy Johns (Ron); and step-granddaughter, Lindsay Moore (Ken Marshall). She also leaves one brother, J.T. Meador (Jewel); and four sisters, Kathryn Thomason (Paul), Charlotte Gasaway, Reba Meador, and Rebekah Fabian. She had one niece, Heidi Schultz (Ken); and four nephews, Bob Meador, Gregory Gasaway, Jeffrey Gasaway (Kara), and Christopher Fabian (Kori). There were seven grandnephews: Chase (Jennifer), Austin, and Dakota Meador; Garrett, Hunter, and Hayden Gasaway; and Andrew Fabian; and two grandnieces, Moriah and Ainsley Gasaway. Her one great-grandnephew was Dylan Meador. She was anticipating, with excitement, great joy and happiness, the birth of her first great-grandchild, a little boy, in December.Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 5th at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service in Bethany, Oklahoma. Visitation will be at Mercer-Adams Funeral Service on Tuesday, December 4th from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Interment will be in the Resurrection Memorial Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.Nelda nurtured and kept close friends from all ages of her life. She said, "Keeping friends is hard. You have to work at it," and she did! From her Friday night "train group" to her high school reunion friends, she will be deeply missed.Nelda, we love you. By example, you have shown us how to live life and, now, you have taught us how to face death. You were like a bright star shining in our lives, leading us always to higher and nobler goals. We salute you and will keep you alive in our memories. To share a memory or condolence, visit: www.mercer-adams.com www.mercer-adams.com
.Published in The Oklahoman on December 4, 2012