Yesterday, we took time out from houseguests and hosting duties to say a final goodbye to one of my mother’s closest friends here on the Peninsula – Lib Moore. Even before retiring to Oysterville in the early seventies, my folks had known Lib and Tracy Moore for years.
I’m not sure how their friendship began – I suspect it was initially through Tracy’s business, Strand Insurance Company. By the time I, also, became a full-time resident, the two couples were part of a weekly card-playing group and Mom and Lib both belonged to the venerable Mentor Club. The Moores lived just a few miles south in a lovely home on the bay and they all visited back and forth as long-time friends do.
Lib was younger than my mother. In fact, she was a little closer in age to me than to Mom – Mom born in 1911, Lib in 1924, I in 1936. Yet, their interests were more in tune with one another. As Lib’s grandson pointed out in his portion of her eulogy, they were part of “the Greatest Generation.” That’s the term coined by onetime NBC Nightly News anchor and author Tom Brokaw in his book by the same name. It’s a fitting description.
No precise dates define The Greatest Generation. The term describes those who grew up during the Great Depression and fought in World War II or helped to win that war through their work on the home front. They were born between the early 1900s and mid-1920s, according to some and, according to others, were parents of today’s “Baby Boomers.” I actually think that skips a whole generation — MY generation – who I’ve always understood to be those born between 1929 and 1945. (The U.S. Population Bureau refers to us as “The Lucky Few” generation. Hmmm. Good to know…)
As I sat and listened to the accounts of Lib’s long life – a life centered on home and family and community service – I realized that there are so few of her generation left. In fact, I think she was the last among my mom’s friends. The end of an era. Thank goodness for the Libs of this world. Thank goodness I knew them. Thank goodness they helped make some of us “The Lucky Few.”
Sydney, your tribute to Lib was wonderful. She was a true lady, a sweet person, friend of my family and as I remember her also as a real supportive family member. I always remember hearing that Tracey’s wife Lib was joining him on the peninsula after he was out of the service. We were overjoyed with this darling gal and neighbor when she finally arrived. I always loved seeing and visiting with Lib when I went into Katie’s boutique, Sweet William, if she happened to stop by. She was a real asset to the peninsula.