Opal Louise Moore

 

Funeral service for Opal Louise Moore, 90, of Opelika was Thursday, June 5, at 11 a.m., at Jeffcoat-Trant Chapel. Burial was in Garden Hills Cemetery.

Pastor Mike Wright officiated. Visitation was Thursday from 10-11 a.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Mrs. Moore, who died Tuesday, June 3, at Oak Park Nursing Home in Auburn, was born Feb. 29, 1924, in Albertville.

A longtime resident of Opelika, Mrs. Moore was retired from Morris Snower Mfg. Co. and had been an active member of Auburn First Assembly of God.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Moore, Sr.; three sisters, Gladys White of Dadeville, Mildred Carter of Opelika and Dorothy Baker of Opelika; and two brothers, Carl Ashley of Hobbs, N.M., and Clifford Ashley, Jr., of Opelika.

She is survived by one daughter, Debra (Kash) McCall; one son, John (Julie) Moore, Jr.; five grandchildren, Ashley and Clifford McCall, Stephanie (Thomas) Causland, Kristen (Jared) Greer and Sarah Moore; five great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

The children and grandchildren of Opal Moore count it a privilege to be a part of her legacy. She touched so many lives through her compassion and her baking.  Though she was small and soft-spoken, her actions and her countenance spoke volumes of her mighty love for God. She taught us to speak kindness and encouragement, to serve others and to love without condition.  Even after Alzheimer’s took away her memories, the glory of God shone through her life as she touched the hearts of her nurses and caregivers. Maw-Maw, we rise up and call you blessed.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory is directing.www.jeffcoattrant.com.

 

Eleanor Joy Gantt

 

Eleanor Joy Gantt, 80, of Montgomery, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2014, at Baptist East Hospital in Montgomery. She was born Oct. 7, 1933, in Montgomery and had lived most of her life in Montgomery. She was retired from the city of Montgomery, and loved fishing down on the beach.

Mrs. Gantt was a member of Eastmont Baptist Church, and she loved to square dance and travel. She leaves behind her precious dog, Misty.

Mrs. Gantt is survived by son, Mike (Melody) Hilyer of Opelika; daughter, Janet (Doug) Morrison of Montgomery; seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and two sisters.

Visitation was Friday from 6-7 p.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. A private graveside service was held on Saturday, June 7, 2014, at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery. The Rev. Mike Northcutt officiated.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory directed.www.jeffcoattrant.com.

 

Dodie Gross

 

Dorothy (Dodie) Loreman Gross, of Auburn, passed away suddenly of a massive heart attack while walking in Town Creek Park on Saturday morning June 7, 2014.

Dodie was born April 21, 1938, in Lincoln, Neb., to Levi Daniel and Dorothy Gladys Loreman. She graduated from Theodore High School and attended the University of Alabama from 1955 to 1960, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in home economics. Dodie married Charles A. Gross on September 17, 1960, in Tuscaloosa.  Dodie and Charles moved to Rolla, Mo., where they raised their three boys David (1961), Robert (1962), and Michael (1965), and Charles served on the UMR faculty while earning his master’s degree (1966) and Ph.D (1969). In 1972 the family moved to Auburn, where Charles accepted an Associate Professorship at AU.

For many years, Dodie taught preschool at Auburn First Baptist Church, and subsequently she served as Director of Grace Methodist Church Pre-School until her retirement in 2002. She nurtured and loved countless children and their parents throughout her working life.  She was an avid volunteer in many civic activities but Auburn First Baptist and Auburn Civitan in particular, where she served in many offices, including president.

A son comments that “she was known as ‘Ruth’ from the Bible; not only ready and willing but eager to put herself second and serve others.”  A friend notes, “I never knew Dodie not to be smiling.” Dodie enjoyed walking with Charles, traveling, square dancing (Village Squares), and spending time with family.

Dodie is survived by her husband Charles; two sons, David and Michael; daughter-in-laws Tracy and Sherry; five grandchildren, Kevin, Natalie, Robyn, Steven and Jenny; and four great-grandchildren. Dodie was preceded in death by her son, Robert; her sister, Donna Foreman; and her two brothers, Ron and Reid Loreman.

A memorial service will be held June 21, 2014, at First Baptist Church of Auburn at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Civitan International Scholarship Fund in the name of Dodie Gross.  Contact Kirk Iversen at 334-332-7667 for details.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements. www.jeffcoattrant.com.

 

Mr. James D. Todd

 

Mr. James D. Todd of Cusseta passed away Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Auburn.  He was born Oct. 16, 1946, in Opelika.

A memorial service was held Monday, June 9, 2014, at 1 p.m. at the Beulah Baptist Church, with visitation one hour prior to the service.

The pastors Michael Smith and Jim Dykes officiated.

Survivors include his wife: Regina Todd of Cusseta; two sons, Brian (Linda) Todd of Cusseta and Blake (Amanda) Todd of Valley; four daughters, Ann Marie (Eric) Rowlett of Opelika, Michelle Evans of Columbus, Ga., Roxanne (Andrew) Huckeba of Austell, Ga., and April (Jake) Ramirez of Douglasville, Ga.; and one brother, Steve Todd of Valley.

Jimmy was blessed with 13 grandchildren and loving nieces, nephews and cousins. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be directed to the Beulah Baptist Church Building Fund.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

 

Elizabeth Ann Hodges Butz

 

Elizabeth Ann Hodges Butz of Auburn passed away June 8, 2014. Born July 20, 1926, Mrs. Butz was a native of Birmingham.

Elizabeth (Libby) Butz was preceded in death by her husband Robert Kent Butz. She is survived by her six children: Floyd (Sandy) Williams of Gulf Shores; Bob Butz of Auburn; Martha (Bob) Dumas of Auburn; Don (Beth) Butz of Auburn; Mary Wilson of Williston, Fla.; Margaret (Jim) Kuhn of Columbus, Ohio; and her 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was a member of Chapter E, P.E.O., Auburn, and Auburn United Methodist Church.

A memorial service was held Thursday, June 12, at 11 a.m. at Auburn United Methodist Church in Founder’s Chapel. Visitation was held prior to the service at 10 a.m. in Founder’s Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to The United Methodist Children’s Home, 3140 Zelda Court, Montgomery, AL 36106-2607; East Alabama Medical Center Foundation, 2000 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801, or Southern Care Hospice, 7067 Sydney Curve, Montgomery, AL 36117; they would be appreciated.

Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home handled the arrangements. www.jeffcoattrant.com.