Sandra Thompson-Moore - Online Memorial Website

Sandra was born in North Olmsted, Ohio to Harold and Pearl Thompson along with two older brothers Tommy and Richard. She was raised in a house her uncle built on a large property and had various animals. She said feeding the chickens made her apprehensive because when she came in to feed them or get eggs, they would all stop, go silent, and stare at her and she did not like being the center of attention. She loved animals - especially dogs - which she raised for most of her life. The entire family started studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses after a tragic event and Tommy lost the use of an arm. When the Witnesses knocked on their door and told him that Jehovah can restore his arm in paradise, he pleaded for a bible study. They were all baptized together as Jehovah’s Witness at a convention in New York City in 1947. They spent many hours in the ministry teaching others the Bible using placards and testimony cards with Sandra regularly spending time in the ministry for the next 73 years. In 1959 she had the opportunity of being the first sister in the congregation to give a demonstration regarding the ministry at the Kingdom Hall. She was nervous being in front of everyone, but she made it through with a lot of praying. Her parents had strong faith and love for Jehovah God and Jesus and would eventually be assigned to Alabama to help in the ministry. She and her brothers have followed that example of love for God and strong faith.

She married and had two daughters, Dora and Susan. She worked as a bookkeeper and did cleaning. She was a talented seamstress and frequently made clothes, even from curtains. She looked after her aunt Myrtle, one of two aunts who had a heavenly hope, who in her later years also hosted various members of the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses when they stayed in Cleveland, and Sandra enjoyed spending time with them encouraged by their dedication and experiences. She later met and married Frank Moore on April 7th, 1973, who had three children, Frankie, Wendy, and Aaron. Two years later after an unfortunate miscarriage, they were glad to have their son Joe, adding to the blended family. Tragically, Frankie passed away in 2003, after long enduring a heartbreaking event at 6 years old. They took the family to congregation meetings, and attended the Brunswick, Ohio congregation for over 10 years, teaching the children how to share the Bible with others and spending time with relatives and friends sharing meals and outdoor recreation. There are fond memories, photos, and videos of the family traveling, including up and down the east coast in an RV.

In 1987, they moved out to Lake Forest, California where Frank and Sandra would stay for the next 33 years enjoying being a part of the Lake Forest congregation.

One of Sandra’s favorite hobbies was gardening: from vegetables, fruit trees, herbs, and especially flowers. Her favorite was her pink roses. She liked riding bikes and horses. She was also an artist with a fantastic eye for color in the way she dressed and decorated the home. Her favorite colors were “leopard print” and “bling”. She looked after the health and safety of her family, always ready with Vitamin C, D, and homemade chicken soup and calling to make sure the doors were locked at night. She loved listening to music and the Kingdom melodies which she frequently played while driving. She enjoyed card games with friends and always had Solitaire on her phone. She also looked forward to vacations, visiting relatives, cruising the Caribbean islands and traveling to the Bethel facilities at Wallkill, Patterson, and Brooklyn, New York. She and Frank hosted delegates from Japan attending the conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses and had a good time touring them around the area. She also would work in the family businesses. For a time, she was able to auxiliary pioneer, putting in an excess of sixty hours a month in the ministry. She said it helped her not to put so much focus on whatever challenges came along.

She was called by family and friends a kind and gentle soul, caring, helpful, welcoming, comforting, a great listener, classy, a loving mom, a hard worker, a good friend, with memorable red hair, a soothing voice, and admired for her faith and dedication.

Due to an accident in her mid-40s, she would have ongoing pain from the nerves in her spine for the rest of her life and she could not do a lot of the physical activities that she enjoyed including traveling later in life. She was known for going to the congregation meetings even though she would be in a great deal of pain. She tried hard to “grin and bear it” but when it became worse, she would still listen to the meetings over the telephone tie-line while laying down at home. During these times she was determined to keep active in the ministry by letter writing or going back to visit people who showed interest in the Bible, even if she could only handle 15 minutes at a time. Though she had days of intense pain, until the end of her life she was still cooking, cleaning, caring for finances, and shopping. Friends would comment how cute it was when they would see her driving so Frank could talk on the cell phone. However, Frank would say she did it because he terrified her with his driving…

Her faith in God and his promises in the Bible was unwavering throughout her entire life. Her meetings, ministry, and personal study were constant. She was determined to follow what God requires of us in the Bible. She was frequently seen with the literature carts at the parks and talking to people at businesses. The night before the unexpected stroke, she was talking on the phone with one of her daughters making plans together for letter writing and sending neighbors the “What is God’s Kingdom?” Watchtower magazine. Two of the hospital’s doctors, after running numerous tests, said how unfair it was that this had happened to her as - other than the issues with her spine - they found she was very healthy and could have lived longer. However, Sandra showed others from the Bible that God does not cause bad things to happen, “with evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone.” -James 1:13 and that unforeseen events such as serious illness, accidents, or disasters can happen to anyone at any time. -Ecclesiastes 9:11. One of her favorite tracts to share with others answered the question “Will Suffering Ever End?” showing the scriptures she looked forward to when “God…will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain.” -Revelation 21:3, 4, and what the conditions on the earth would be at Psalm 37:10, 11 “Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, and they will not be there. 11) But the meek will possess the earth, and they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” With a smile on her face, she would say during that time she would have energy, be free of pain, and see loved ones again.

Sandra will be deeply missed but her love and faith will always be remembered, and we are anticipating Jesus promise at John 5:28, 29 when “all those in the memorial tombs” will be resurrected and we eagerly welcome her back.

For a printable brochure, copy or click on this link into your browser:

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To see Sandra's Video, copy or click on this link into a browser:

https://youtu.be/9N7JQr-vkac