Janice Faye Moore
March 13, 1940 - October 23, 2020

JANICE FAYE MOORE
Janice Faye (Combs) Moore
During the late-night hours of Friday October 23, 2020, our beautiful mother went to be with the Lord. A beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, friend and Christian servant passed away at her home in Dripping Springs, Texas, on the property once farmed and ranched by her parents, Ira and Bessie Combs. In the waning days of her life, she was surrounded by her children and numerous family members and friends who sang, prayed, read scripture, and rejoiced in the hope found in Jesus. She looked forward to paradise and had longed to be with her husband, Grady, who passed away only 5 months ago. They had been happily married for 62 years.
Mom is survived by her son Thomas Moore (wife Carole), daughter Anita Merz (husband Roland), and son John Moore (wife Carla). She dearly loved her eight grandchildren and their spouses: Brandi Nichols (husband Josh), Deric Merz (wife Amy), Seth Moore (deceased), Kyle Merz, Joshua Moore (wife Emily), Jordan Moore (wife Erin), Jacob Moore (wife Alyssa), and Micah Moore (wife Courtney) as well as her great-grandchildren: Hailey Stringham (husband Matthew), Bryce, Ava, Seth and Alex Nichols, Isla and Raelyn Merz, Deacon and Caroline Moore, and Jackson and Emmalyn Moore and one great-great-grandchild, Everly Stringham. She was preceded in death by father Ira Amiel Combs, mother Bessie Beulah (Clifton) Combs, sisters Irene Breed and Shirley Combs, and grandson Seth Thomas Moore.
Mom was born on March 13, 1940 in Hays County, Texas near Dripping Springs and grew up learning to farm and ranch in the rugged Texas hill country. She enjoyed the outdoors, loved animals, and had a unique skill for growing and nurturing plants, and even more so, people. Even in the last year of her life, though aged, confined and disabled, she took great delight in rolling her wheelchair out on her back porch to tend her plants, and to peer across the scenic hills and valleys near her beautiful Texas home. She enjoyed her plants, but she loved people, and especially her Lord.
Growing up on her parents' ranch along Onion Creek in northern Hays County, Mom grew up in difficult financial circumstances. She gathered eggs, rode horses (sometimes bareback), and walked along dusty roads to attend nearby Mount Gainor Elementary School. She loved animals and had a unique ability to tame wild cats, rabbits, squirrels, and racoons. She helped in tending livestock, hauling hay, harvesting crops, and in working alongside her mother in taking care of the numerous household duties and chores required of a ranching family in rural America.
In her adolescence, she attended Dripping Springs High School where she played basketball, became a cheerleader, competed in barrel racing, and was elected to be a part of the Homecoming court. In her youth she had many friends, but none closer to her than her beloved sisters Shirley and Irene (whom they affectionately called "Sister". They were all lifelong friends and deeply devoted to one another. While a teenager, Mother was baptized into Christ, and along with her entire family faithfully attended the assemblies of the Dripping Springs church of Christ, where they also participated in numerous programs and activities. The Combs family hosted numerous church "get togethers" at their ranch, and mother grew up playing many games of volleyball with teenagers and friends from church out on the make-shift country court permanently erected behind their house.
When mother was only two years old, she met the love of her life when her parents invited Jarrell and Johnnie Moore to their home following a Sunday morning worship service. The Moores were newcomers to the community of Dripping Springs but became the recipients of the warm and welcoming hospitality of the Combs family--that later came to characterize our own mother's life and home. Dad was only seven when he and Mother first met, and he was unimpressed by her demeanor and character, especially after she scribbled all over his beloved, cherished coloring books. All of that would change, though, when he returned home on leave from the military during mother's junior year of high school. Dad soon discovered that the precocious little girl he once knew had grown into a beautiful young Christian woman. On June 8, 1957 they married and moved to Austin, Texas, but eventually found their way back to Dripping Springs where they reared their three children, all of whom deeply loved and admired her to the end.
While Dad spent most of his professional career at Washington National Insurance Agency travelling back and forth to Austin, mother worked tirelessly at home. She lovingly looked after her children's every need, cared for the many household duties, cared for her aging parents and father-in-law, and cooked literally thousands of meals for her family, friends, and those in need or bereaved. Throughout her entire life, Mom took great delight in taking care of others and in creating a home that she used for the glory of God. Over the years she and Dad worked in various civic organizations, including the athletic and band booster clubs. She cooked for the Tiger football team on game days, worked for the PTA, and likewise supported Dad and walked by his side while he served as a school board member and as a Shepherd for over 40 years in the local church. Mom was known for her hospitality, providing meals for church members and friends. She and Dad provided lodging on numerous occasions for family members, visiting preachers, missionaries, and friends.
Mom's welcoming and hospitable nature was especially felt among her family. They loved coming to her home, especially around the holidays when the house was so festively decorated, and the kitchen so wonderfully permeated by the sweet aroma of our favorite foods and desserts (and of course the pantry was well stocked with the grandkids' special pop-tarts and favorite treats). She always had a lot of "pretties," as dad liked to call them, and she took great delight in caring for her many plants, flowers, and especially her guests. "She looked well to the ways of her household, and her lamp did not go out at night (Proverbs 31:18, 27). Above all, her house was always inviting, secure, and full of love and laughter.
However, Mom did not just use her home in ministering to others--she used her abilities and resources as well. She taught children's Bible classes and sent sympathy cards to the sick and bereaved. She donated clothes to children's homes and food to the hungry. She worked on Vacation Bible School, and numerous projects in the teacher workroom, and in the kitchen at the church building of the Dripping Springs church of Christ. Every year she delighted in helping children in the annual Christmas gifts donation drive. She and dad together supported missionaries and missionary campaigns in Jamaica, Singapore, Tobago, Ghana, and the United States. She supported and worked in the church in numerous other ways, but especially in the lives of its members who respected her genuine faith and love, and as recently revealed to us by one the church members, "she showed me how to love and care for my husband."
As her children grew older, Mom began seeking employment outside the home working for Tupperware, at the local grocery store, and then finally for the Dripping Springs ISD Food Service department where she worked for 25 years. While Mother made many friends while working for DSISD, and delighted in seeing hundreds of children (including her own grandchildren) come through the lunch and snack bar lines each day, she most of all enjoyed being with Dad, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She looked forward to the times she could be in their presence. She loved them deeply and thought about and cared for all of them constantly, always thinking about what they liked and needed. Mother was a bit of an introvert and never wanted to be the center of attention, but she absolutely loved being surrounded by her family--we believe she is surrounded by them now, especially by our beloved Daddy, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and of course Seth, her beloved grandson.
We have so many vivid and precious memories of our mother, and far too many to share. We loved going to see her because there was always room at her personal table of love and goodness. We delighted in our visits with both her and Dad, but we were often amused by what she would say after our lengthy visits: "Y'all better not rush off!" and "When am I going to see you again?" Mom, we cannot say for sure, but, one day--one day we WILL see you again, and then we won't be rushing off to go anywhere. We will all be together with God, basking in the light of His glorious presence, sitting at HIS lavishly decorated table of love, for ALL of eternity.
Our family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to the many family and friends who loved and supported our parents over the years. We also give thanks to the Dripping Springs church of Christ, Cella Bella Senior Services and Hospice Care (especially Natalie Irvin,) Harrell Funeral Home, Dr. Todd Buchanan, her caregiver Destiny Jimenez, and especially to Carolyn and Lee Gully, Clinton Rutherford, and the Dripping Springs church of Christ.
With love from her children,
Tommy, Anita, and John

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