Thursday, May 16, 2019 ~ SOOKE
by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
There are few people in Sooke who didn’t know or hear of Martha Moore. She was as much a fixture of the long-time Sooke community as is the community hall or the legion.
Arriving in Sooke in 1972, she embraced the town as her ‘forever-home’ as many do. But her presence was distinct for the passion and commitment she brought to the true grass roots of the town — particularly hands-on food production and supporting the veterans community.
Martha Moore died last week at the age of 86. Born in 1933, she grew up during the Great Depression and World War II. Her husband Verne (who pre-deceased Martha in 2015) suffered hearing loss in the war due to explosions and heavy equipment. Martha was always present at Remembrance Day events. She herself had trained in the the Women’s Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1957 in Quebec and Manitoba.
In 2015, Martha penned a letter to local media about the importance of voting, in that a free democracy was won by young men in the war who themselves were not even old enough to vote:
“It was good to see the attendance for the all-candidates meeting showing our interest in the future of Canada. Our right to vote has been paid for with the lives of our troops in two world wars. They were all volunteers giving their lives or health. Flanders Fields in Holland has their names and ages on white crosses. All the ones I saw were 17. They would never enjoy high school grad, owning a home or see their children graduate from high school. Their sacrifice can be honoured by us when we vote in elections. That freedom is what they fought for and own. Now we must do our part by being informed and voting. It is the least we can do to show our respect and appreciation for what they gave.” – Martha Moore, Sooke
Anyone who met or volunteered alongside Martha will remember her intensive gaze that bore right into you. She would decide right then and there to tell you something that she thought was important. Whether you agreed or not didn’t matter. The fact that she spoke up is what made an impression. She sort of made it her business to know everyone’s business, but that didn’t seem to bother too many folks.
Martha was such a fixture of Sooke that even now-Premier John Horgan (who began his provincial political journey as MLA in the Juan de Fuca riding in 2005) will have many memories of the times she accosted him with her opinion at the Sooke Fall Fair or other community events over the years.
In 2013, Martha won first prize for her bread making at the Sooke Fall Fair and was proud to show off the ribbon with an attitude of ‘well of course’! It wasn’t arrogant, it was self-assurance born of long years of experience. She was of her own mind and opinion in a way a mother hen directs her chosen flock.
Sooke Community Hall on Saturday May 25 will very likely be packed to overflowing for the Celebration of Life for Martha Moore. The gathering is scheduled for 2 pm.
Martha leaves behind her daughter Terrie (Steve Shortt), sons Bill and Jim Moore; grandchildren Garett Poirier, Kyle Poirier (Samantha Laliberty), Sydnee Ogden-Moore; and great-grandchildren Kallen Poirier and Sage Poirier.