Lena Irene Benson Moore passed away on Friday, July 11, 2014. She had lived in Seguin, TX, near her daughter Gail, since June 2010. Wherever her long life took her, she was an inspiration and example to those around her. Her family and friends are grateful to have had her among us for so many years, with her clear mind and memory, her joyful demeanor, and her years of experience and wisdom. She lived her life with grace and dignity, and departed for her heavenly home in the same way.

Irene, daughter of Voliny Oliny and Lena May (Kongable) Benson, was born at home in Guthrie, OK, on March 15, 1915. She was married June 18, 1937, to Clyde Henry Moore, who preceded her in death October 12, 1992. They were the dearly loved parents of Phyllis Jo Moore Sutton, who died August 26, 1998, and Gail Elizabeth Moore Streun, Seguin, TX, who survives her. She was predeceased by her brothers Clyde Volney, Robert Pinnick, Vern Kongable, and Cecil Oliny Benson; her sister Monnie Etta Benson Downing; and her son-in-law William Ray Streun.

She is also survived by her beloved immediate family: son-in-law Everett Lavern (Vern) Sutton, grandson Michael Andrew Sutton and his wife Beatrice Elizabeth Blanc, all of Minneapolis, MN; grandson, Nathan Edward Streun, Dallas, TX; great-grandson Conner Andrew Sutton, Afton, MN; and sister Ellen Louise Benson Knox, Evergreen Park, IL. She also leaves numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Irene grew up in Guthrie, OK, where she and her family were members of the United Presbyterian Church. She started piano lessons at age 8, playing for church and school activities. She also studied piano in college for three years. As she wrote in her life story in 2011, "Early in life, music became my passion, especially church and classical music." Other than her family, her faith and music were indeed two of the major focuses in her life.
Irene attended public schools in Guthrie, OK, graduating as Salutatorian in 1931. She was an honor graduate of Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University), obtaining a B.A. in English, French, and Education. While in college, she received two keys for high academic grades, one for excellence in English (Chi Delta Phi membership), and one for academic excellence in all subjects (Phi Kappa Phi, similar to Phi Beta Kappa in other colleges). The President of the college sent a letter of commendation every semester to her parents. Irene and her husband met while they were in college.
After teaching English in Marlow, OK, for one year, she and Clyde were married in her parents' home. During their married life, Clyde was transferred several times. They lived in Dexter, MO; Oklahoma City, OK; Yoakum, TX; Lubbock, TX; Taylor, TX; Marlin, TX; and Austin, TX. They retired to Edmond, OK, in 1976.

Irene was a faithful and devout Christian from an early age. Hers was a life of service to God, church, and family, in which she happily used her many talents and intelligence. Irene became the organist and the choir director at the First Presbyterian Church, Yoakum, in 1940; it was her first church music position. She was active in the Presbyterian Church Women's organizations, often serving as an officer, at both the local and regional levels. A lifetime membership in the Women of the Church was presented to her at Faith Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX, in 1972. She was involved with church music in the Presbyterian Church in every town or city in which they lived, serving in whatever capacity she was most needed. The Faith Presbyterian Church of Austin dedicated a new organ to her in 1977, in recognition of her musical service to the congregation. She was ordained and installed as an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Edmond.

Irene baked communion bread from her Grandmother Henrietta Kongable's recipe for several churches for untold years, sharing and teaching the recipe and method to many others, even in Seguin. In February 2005, the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Edmond honored Irene for her many years of dedicated service. She was presented a Certificate of Appreciation, and a plaque reading "For years of service in preparation of the communion elements, done with a servant's heart, In Remembrance of Him" was placed on The Irene Moore Sacristy.

She also instilled a love for music in her daughters, teaching them to play the piano. For a number of years she also taught piano lessons to children and adults in her home. She was an exemplary homemaker, an outstanding seamstress, cook, baker, and canner for many years. She enjoyed playing the piano for the choir at the Teal Ridge Retirement Center (Edmond, OK) and playing piano for herself and others at Seguin Assisted Living, in both of which she lived happily for several years.
One of her friends wrote to her recently, "You were always doing something for someone, giving happiness with your music or doing the Lord's work by making communion bread, always showing God's love and being an inspiration to so many who admired you."

Other interests included membership and holding office in the Philomathic Study Club in several towns, and more recently in PEO, a philanthropic and educational organization, with which she was affiliated for many years in Edmond, OK.

A celebration of Irene's life will be held, Monday, August 25, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Edmond, OK. Her cremains will be interred beside her husband's at the Carney (OK) Cemetery. You may sign the guestbook at www.treshewell.com (830-549-5912).
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial gifts be made to one of the following:

• The Irene Moore Music Fund, First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, 1001 South Rankin St., Edmond, OK 73034 (405-341-3602);
• The Urban Mission, 3737 N. Portland Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (405-946-1556) (www.urbanmissionokc.org); or
• a charity of your choice