Rose Mary Arnold Moake was born to John J. Arnold and Hazel Gail Clark Arnold in Terre Haute, Indiana, in December of 1927.  She passed away on December 5, 2022, coincidentally the same date as her dear husband James, three years earlier.

She lived in Terre Haute until she was in junior high when her family moved to Villa Grove, Illinois, where she met her future husband, James E. Moake.  Both of their fathers were transferred to Villa Grove because they worked for the railroad, the C&EI.

After WWII ended, Rose Mary and James married and eventually moved to Urbana, where they raised their two children, Michelle (Mark) Cramer of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and James E. Moake, Jr. (deceased) and lived in the same home for over sixty years.

Rose Mary worked for Sears for many years in the hardware department; she learned a lot about tools! Then later she worked in commercial sales for Sears and travelled the state measuring commercial spaces for window coverings and carpeting.  After she retired from Sears, she and James spent a few years working at the U. of I. Athletic Ticket Office.

But Rose Mary’s greatest passion was designing, decorating, and sewing clothing for herself, her daughter, her granddaughters, and her great-grandchildren.  From decorating t-shirts and sweatshirts to embroidering the front of a dress to making her own patterns for some garments to designing unique Halloween costumes, Rose Mary’s creativity knew no bounds. She owned six sewing machines at one time and was always collecting beautiful fabrics.  She also worked at JO-ANN’s (a craft/fabric store) for a few years.

In the “empty nester” years Rose Mary and James travelled in the U.S., Asia, and Europe.  Visiting their son and daughter, whose husband was a Navy helicopter pilot and stationed in U.S. port cities, the Philippines, and Germany, was often their incentive.  Rose Mary and James were married for 71 years before James passed away.

Surviving Rose Mary are her daughter Michelle; daughter-in-law Luck Moake of DeRidder, LA; sister Lorraine Smith of South Barrington, IL; grandchildren Cynthia (Jeff) Feinendegen of Mundelein, IL; Christine (Daniel) Howieson of Lafayette, IN; Michael (Catherine Lee) Cramer of Nashville, TN; Jason (Amanda) Moake of DeRidder, LA; Penny (Greg) Moake Younger of Phenix City, AL; and five great-grandchildren – Max and Ruby Feinendegen; Rose, Leland, and Myra Howieson.

Funeral arrangements are at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S. Philo Rd., Urbana, on Saturday, December 17.  Visitation 10:00-11:00.  Funeral 11:00.  In lieu of flowers please donate to the charity of your choice in Rose Mary’s name.