This appeared in the Florida Times-Union, (Jacksonville, FL), 5/07/03
Teacher, genealogist Mabel Moyer dies By Jessie-Lynn Kerr
Mabel Padgett Moyer, who after a career as a teacher and media
specialist found a second passion in genealogy, died April 24, in St.
Augustine two weeks after suffering a stroke. She was 95.
A service of peace and resurrection will be at 3 p.m. tomorrow at
Riverside Park United Methodist Church where Mrs. Moyer was a member for
almost 90 years. She lived in Murray Hill in a house her father built in1936
until moving to St. Augustine two years ago.
The family will greet friends in the church parlor following the
service.
Born in Jacksonville in 1907, Ms. Moyer graduated from old Duval High
School before heading off to college at Florida Southern at Lakeland during
the Great Depression. After a year of college she returned to Jacksonville
to work as a bookkeeper. IN 1943 she joined the
Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) and served in
Washington, D. C., according to one of her daughters, Karen Fleming of St.
Augustine,
"After World War II, mother met my father at a USO dance at Camp
Blanding," Fleming said. "They were married and my sister and I were born
and our parents moved to Gainesville so both could attend the University of
Florida on the GI Bill."
Mrs. Moyer obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees from the
University of Florida.
She taught elementary school in Jacksonville at Ramona Boulevard, Ruth
N. Upson, Pinedale and Harborview, where she also served as media specialist.
When she retired in 1970, Mrs. Moyers began a second career in
genealogy.
"She wanted to find out who here ancestors were, where she had come
from," Fleming said.
Mrs. Moyers was able to trace one line of her family back to a signer of
the Magna Carta in 1215 and also found out she qualified to join the
Mayflower Society, being descended from one of the pikgrims.
"Genealogy became her passion," Fleming said. Mrs. Moyers not only
explored her own family's roots, but she helped others explore their lineage
too, her daughter said.
She was a member of numerous genealogical organizations as well as the
National Society of Mafna Carta Damesa and Barons, the Mayflower Society, and
the DAughters of the Amerikcan Revolution.
Predeceased in 1995 by her husband of 40 years, Adam Rothermel Moyer,
Mrs. Moyer is survived also by her other faughter, Suzanne Meik of
Tallahassee, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Staff writer Jessie-Lynn Kerr can be reached at
(904) 359-4374 orvia e-mail at jkerr(a)jacksonville.com