Ella Fae “Wiggy’ Willoughby Moore passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 17, surrounded by loved ones. Wiggy was born in Evanston on Dec. 16, 1925, to John Heber Willoughby and Sarah Maude Schopp, in the same home that she was later married in and resided in for 91 years. Ella Fae was the youngest of 10 children in her family.
She graduated from Evanston High School in 1943. Ella Fae Willoughby married Verdon Moore on April 20, 1946. Wiggy and Verdon had three children, Don, Judy and Gordon. They were the light of their life.
Together, Verd and Wiggy enjoyed attending various sporting events. Their fondest memories were made when camping, hunting, traveling with the Sage Riders and getting together for family celebrations. Their favorite traditions were the family’s annual Christmas tree hunt, Christmas Eve Celebrations and “crazy” family reunions.
Over the years, their marriage created a legacy that included 10 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 18 great-great-grandchildren. Wiggy and Verdon were blessed to celebrate their golden anniversary with a family celebration in 1996, just prior to Verdon’s passing.
Wiggy was known as a surrogate mother, grandmother, caretaker, loving friend and neighbor, as well as jokester to many. She was a hard worker throughout her life. Wiggy started working at her dad’s grocery store then went on to work at various places throughout the town, such as Blythe and Fargo, Rip’s, and the Dunmar.
She adored visiting with people, helping them and, most of all, making them laugh. Wiggy received a calling to become the Primary chorister at the Elm Street Church, which she loved doing for 25 years.
Wiggy enjoyed cooking for family and friends; she enjoyed painting hand towels as well as quilting. She took pride in sharing her love by giving away more than 100 quilted blankets to new family members and numerous friends over the years.
Wiggy was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and was ecstatic to become a shareholder of the Green Bay Packers. As Wiggy’s family grew, her signature trademark gift became candy canes wrapped with two-dollar bills, and this quickly turned into an annual “Grandgirls Night” tradition to get them all prepared.
One of her treasured accomplishments was being named Evanston High School’s Homecoming Parade Grand Marshall in 2019. Wiggy’s favorite memories included traveling to the Oregon coast; Branson, Missouri; Yellowstone National Park; the National Finals Rodeo; cruises; and trips to Wendover with her grandgirls.
Her family will be forever grateful for her devotion to creating detailed photo albums that traced family lineage, shared milestones of family members and most of all captured special memories of family gatherings.
Wiggy was an incredibly loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and nothing meant more to her than the family that “God had blessed her with.”
She touched the lives of all she met. The numerous lessons that she imparted to her family and friends were found in her kindness, smile, quick wit, sassiness, work ethic, generosity and humbleness. We will treasure all of them as well as her legacy for always loving a family gathering.
Wiggy is preceded in death by her mother; father; nine siblings; husband, Verdon; daughter, Judy Moore; and daughter-in-law, Rita Moore.
Wiggy is survived by her sons, Don Moore and Gordon (Chrystal) Moore; son-in-law John Davis; grandchildren, Michelle (Joe) Martin, Jeanna (Brent) Martin, Natalie (Jeff) Smart, Garth (Sharon) Wagstaff, Brian (Becca) Moore, Laurie Wagstaff, Steve (Somer) Moore, Natasha (Cameron) Harris, Austin (Alisha) Moore and Nesha (Brett) Morrison; and her many great- and great-great-grandchildren.
The family would like to give a heartfelt thank-you to the wonderful staff of Best Home Health, Compassionate Journey and Blacks Fork Physical Therapy for their exceptional care of Wiggy during the last chapters of her life.
Funeral services for Ella Fae Moore were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 22, at Crandall Funeral Home in Evanston. Visitation was held prior to the services from 10-11 a.m. Interment followed immediately at the Evanston City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to an Evanston community charity in her name.
