Winifred "Winkie" Clara Moore, 91, died peacefully April 28 in Albany.
She was born in Wasco, California, the daughter of Carl Ferdinand Bertkau and Melanie Paula Schmidt, early Wasco pioneers. She moved to Corvallis in 1948 where her husband, Frank Walter Moore Sr., was enrolled in the forestry program at Oregon State College. A strong willed, independent woman, Winifred chose to live her life on her own terms supported by family and close friends, remaining in her home for all but the last three weeks of her life.
Winifred's love of animals, historic homes, native plants and garden were her life. Fueled by her lifelong love of animals, Winkie was one of the founding members of SafeHaven Humane Society in 1974, Linn County's first animal shelter. Raised on a farm with horses Dolly, Daisy and Ned, her love of horses was her passion. Later, once her children had "left the nest," her passion reemerged with fervor and she continued riding through much of the rest of her life on her beloved Kyleah until she was in her 80s. Winkie and Pop (as Frank Sr. was affectionately known) rescued retired Greyhound racing dogs, stray cats, raccoons, and an occasional duck and coyote during their life together. In 1973 she and Frank purchased the John Ralston House, a Queen Anne Eastlake Stick style home in the Hackleman District built in 1889 and lovingly restored it. The home was open to public tours yearly while listed on the National Historic Register. Her love of beauty was evidenced by her exacting requests while renovating the Ralston House and creating and maintaining the flower and native plant gardens that surround the home.
Predeceased by her husband, Frank, Winifred is survived by son Frank Walter Moore Jr.; daughter Liz and son-in-law Andy Rapp; daughter Wendy and son-in-law Kim Jones; seven grandchildren, Nandy Jones, Bray Jones, Chris Campbell, Andrea Rapp, Toby Rapp, Heather Rapp and Aimee Berry; and eight great-grandchildren. We will miss her greatly, but know she is somewhere riding her horse into the great beyond.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to SafeHaven Humane Society or Samaritan Evergreen Hospice.