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Colleen Louvena Heath McClain-Moore, age 97 of Point Marion, PA died Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at home. She was born November 10, 1926 on a farm a few miles from Moundsville, WV the daughter of the late, John Wilmer and Bessie Kelley Heath. Her middle name was derived from two aunts, Aunt LuLu and Aunt Alvena. Her parents as a result split the two names and it became Louvena for the middle name. He first name was never a mystery, as her mother Bessie was a great fan of the 1920’s screen legion, Colleen Moore and she was rightfully named Colleen. Colleen at birth was born underweight, and a few days after her birth, neighbors began to visit and see mother and daughter. Some of the small from surrounding farms also stopped in and reported the baby was the size of an ear of corn. As Colleen was growing up on the Marhsall County farm, she attended Limestone Elementary and Junior High up to the eighth grade. During this time, age 10-13, her mother, Bessie, enrolled Colleen in elocution courses. Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone as well as the idea and practice of effective speech and its forms. From elocution classes, Collen learned the skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation. To further clarify, the elocution system, it is broken down finite areas such as enunciation, articulation, diction, speech, voice production, intonation, voicing, vocalization, modulation, phrasing, delivery, utterance, fluency, public speaking, oratory, speech making, and declaration. Elocution was instrumental in her decision to become a school teacher, as well as her mother, Bessie, who also wanted to be a school teacher. After Limestone Elementary and Junior High, Colleen attended Moundsville High School and graduated at the end of World War II in 1945. She was a 1950 Graduate of West Liberty College from the education program, where she met and married Fillmore Alexander McClain. They left after they both graduated in education. They both accepted jobs with the Albert Gallatin School System. She retired after 36 years in education. After retirement, she traveled the globe for over 30 years, visiting most countries around the world. She later married her second husband, Thomas Moore; the two did extensive traveling throughout the United States. They were also active in square dancing; where they traveled extensively throughout the United States to many square dance organized events. Tom and Colleen later purchased a home in Avon Park, Florida, where they spent many winters. Colleen also participated in Senior Olympics for 35 years and was an avid golfer. She was a member of Wayman’s Ridge United Methodist Church; 1st United Methodist Church of Point Marion; PSEA (Pennsylvania State Education Association); Wayman’s Ridge 4-H Club, where she was a camp leader and instructor. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her 1st husband, Fillmore A. McClain; her 2nd husband, Tom Moore; and two brothers, William Kelley Heath and John Desmond (Ellen) Heath. Survivors include three sons, Fillmore (Valerie) McClain, Mark (Laura Villeponteaux) McClain, and Kevin McClain; two grandchildren, Melissa (Andrew)McClain-Hanold and William McClain; step-children, Tom A. Moore, II, Michael G. Moore, Debbie Westphal, and Carolyn Whitehead; and several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends on Saturday from 12noon until time of funeral service at 2pm at Grisell Funeral Home & Crematory, 400 Jefferson Ave., Moundville with Pastor Deb Lambert officiating. Private interment will be held at the convenience of the family. Sympathy expressions at grisellfuneralhomes.com.

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Colleen Louvena McClain-Moore

November 10, 1926 - July 24, 2024