Speck Funeral Home - Jean M. Moore

Frances Jean McGuire Moore passed away on Monday, October 18, 2021, in Livingston, Tennessee, surrounded by her loving family. She was 84 years old. Mrs. Moore will be remembered as a devoted wife and mother whose years of tireless service to her church and community positively affected countless lives. In 2019, Overton County Chamber of Commerce awarded her Citizen of the Year.

Jean was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on July 6, 1937, to John Tyson McGuire and Virginia Bossung McGuire. She graduated from Tupelo High School in 1955 and attended Draughon’s Business College in Memphis, Tennessee. Following college, she moved to Gainesboro, Tennessee for a short time before moving to Livingston, where she lived for the rest of her life.

Mrs. Moore possessed an innate sense of justice and felt a deep compassion for the disenfranchised of society. These characteristics expressed themselves through her 60 years of political advocacy and public service. A lifelong member of and contributor to the Democratic Party, she spent her early adult years active in local and regional political campaigns, including those of a young Al Gore.

Soon she embarked on a career of elected and appointed offices that spanned over three decades. Jean had an immeasurable impact on her community as Overton County Commissioner for a duration of 33 years, and she had an equally long tenure as forewoman of the Overton County Grand Jury. Her unique mix of sensitivity, intelligence and wit endeared her to both constituents and colleagues. She continued to serve in both offices until weeks before her death.

The church was always a central part of Jean’s life. After she met David Moore at First Christian Church in Livingston, and they married in 1994, she relished her role as minister’s wife at Millers Chapel in Alpine, their beloved church home where the two of them served for many years.

Together, David and Jean also opened The Paper Place on the square in Livingston. For almost two decades, this bookstore, gift shop, and cafe served as a welcoming place for people to gather in fellowship. Regulars and travelers alike read the paper, socialized over coffee, and solved the world’s problems together.

Mrs. Moore was preceded in death by her sister Joan Daniels of Richmond, Virginia. Survivors include her husband David Moore of Livingston, Tennessee; her brother Bill (Jamie) McGuire of Florence, Alabama; her children Dee (Al) Wells of Crawford, Tennessee, David (Karen) Moore II of Livingston, Tennessee, and Drew Moore of New York, New York; her grandchildren David Moore III, John David Ledford, Dana Parker, and Mary Miller; as well as great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

Jean’s kind and gentle humaneness extended beyond people to also include animals. Her unconditional love, along with the statue of St. Francis in the front yard, always attracted an array of stray cats, dogs, and raccoons. At one time her household was home to eight dogs. In light of her advocacy of the humane treatment of animals, and her love of the church, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be specified for either Dog Days Search and Rescue, or Millers Chapel. Payments may be made to Speck Funeral Home, 300 North Church Street, Livingston, Tennessee, 38570, (931) 823-1201.

Family visitation will be held on Sunday, October 24 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Overton County Memorial Gardens, 437 Jamestown Highway, Livingston, Tennessee, 38570, with the service to follow at 2:00 p.m. at the same location.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the family and funeral home requests that everyone wear masks and social distance throughout the duration of the visitation and services.  We thank you for your cooperation. 

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