Carolyn Jane Moore

Carolyn Jane Rose Moore, 66, of Landen, OH, died May 15th after a brief and brave battle with pancreatic cancer. A private family burial will be held Friday, May 23 at Rest Haven Memorial Park. The public memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 24 at American Heritage Girls, 35 Tri County Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45246. In lieu of flowers at the service, please consider bringing a perennial plant to create a garden honoring Carolyn. Donations may be sent to American Heritage Girls or Matthew 25 Ministries.

Carolyn was born Jan. 13, 1959 in Evanston, IL, the second twin of Mary Louise Ogan Rose and Maurice Leland Rose. Her seven-minute older sister, Cathy Rose Barney, teased that Carolyn pushed her out first to see if it was safe. They were joined by a sister, Elizabeth Rose O'Hanlon, six years later. The family moved from Glen Ellyn, a Chicago suburb, to Cincinnati in 1968, settling in Montgomery, OH. Growing up, Carolyn loved music, nature, scouting and boys. She met her favorite boy, Andrew E. Moore, in the Sycamore High School Band. She played flute and bassoon; he played clarinet. They survived a long-distance romance during college, where Carolyn fell in love with Ohio University and her Alpha Delta Pi sorority sisters. She majored in journalism and advertising. Weeks after graduation, she and Andy married on August 8, 1981, spending their honeymoon hiking Mt. LaConte in the Smoky Mountains. They lived in West Lafayette, IN, Cleveland, OH, Marietta, GA, Albany, GA and Goose Creek, SC, before returning home to raise their daughters, Amanda Rose Moore Widman (b.1987) and Sarah Catherine Moore Conway (b.1991) in Andy's childhood home.

While parenting her daughters, Carolyn expanded the faith-based scouting organization American Heritage Girls (AHG) as the first national growth director. She also led a troop, edited the magazine, conducted training, managed volunteers and AHG's most prestigious scouting award, "Stars and Stripes," which both of her daughters earned. "Carolyn left an indelible mark," said AHG National Executive Director Patti Garibay. "Her courage, strength, and unflappable determination were integral" to the organization's success. Her quiet integrity surfaced in "her willingness to learn new things and wade through uncharted territory," according to Garibay. "May she rest in the joy of the Lord, whom she served so passionately." She retired after 25 years in 2024.

Carolyn was very devoted to Andy, who often worked out of town. They enjoyed traveling, hiking and being in nature. They visited as many national parks and states as possible. On their last trip as a family of four, they vacationed in Alaska in 2009, visiting glaciers and the Arctic Circle. In 2016, Carolyn and Andy ventured west from Chicago to Washington State on Amtrak so Andy could complete visiting all 50 states. Carolyn, who almost managed that many, was as awed by the beauty of the area as she was traveling by train.

Taking her marriage vows seriously, Carolyn tended to Andy full time when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2017. After his death, she threw herself into work, clearing out the family home and moving to a beautiful, one-level house near Landen Farm Lake, which she shared with her beloved dog, Pumpkin.

Carolyn made lifelong friends easily, especially in the churches and Bible studies where she found her faith. She was an active member of the local Republican Women's Club, and a longtime member of the PEO Sisterhood.

Carolyn's greatest joy, however, was her grandchildren, to whom she was "Mimi." Nicholas Kuznicki, son of Amanda, her oldest grandchild, was her buddy. Malia Conway, not yet two, and Sarah's daughter, also stole Carolyn's heart as she raced around the backyard herding chickens. Carolyn embraced her sweet and talented step granddaughter Maci Widman and was very much looking forward to the newest Widman granddaughter, due in July. Amanda shared names with Carolyn, who indicated the one she liked best, during her last hospital stay.

Carolyn lived a joyful life of faith serving girls, lending a hand, delighting in her growing family, spending quiet time at her camper along the banks of the Ohio and transforming her backyard patio and garden in the last weeks of her life. Practical until the end, she leaves a legacy of love, dedication and family.

Carolyn is also survived by: her sons-in-law Colin Conway and Josh Widman; a sister-in-law Sally Moore Drago and her husband, Mike; brothers-in-laws Tad Barney and Charlie O'Hanlon; nieces Jenna Drago Kessler, Autumn Barney, Lily Barney and nephews Devin O'Hanlon and Matthew Drago; beloved cousins and an Uncle Bill Larson; her AHG community; her Bible study and PEO sisters; dear friend Melissa Norris; Montgomery friends; and Landen neighbors who were so helpful these last few weeks.