With sadness, the family of Beth Mack Moore announces her passing on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at Taylor Health Center in Bath, NY. Beth was born at Bethesda Hospital in Hornell, NY on September 21, 1936, the only child of Edith (Gee) Mack and Carl Bryan Mack. She grew up on Madison Avenue in Hornell and was a 1954 graduate of Hornell High School. At the age of 9, her dad was tragically taken from her in a drowning accident at Loon Lake. Beth’s mom was a huge presence in her life until her death in 2010 at the age of 104!
A trailblazer as a working mother and female broadcaster in the 1960’s, Beth embarked on a decades-long career in local radio, beginning as a secretary at WWHG Radio in Hornell and WFSR Radio in Bath. She took time away to raise her children, then, seeking a way to help the Hornell community during the flood of 1972, she volunteered her services at WLEA radio, tracking and verifying rosters at area evacuation sites as well as updating injury and casualty developments 24/7 through this crisis. She was asked to stay on at WLEA and for the next 22 years, enjoyed a remarkable career as a local news reporter, and as an account clerk serving the Hornell, Bath and Wellsville areas. Beginning in the late 1970s’s she found her true stride as the host of the hugely popular 9 AM “The Beth Moore Show.” Always upbeat and personable, to this day listeners recall her informative conversations with local business people, sharing weekly business specials, recipes, family stories, and always, her ongoing experiences as Willie Nelson’s biggest fan. Beth treated her guests and listeners like friends bonding over a cup of coffee and conversation, and shared so much that when revealing something to her, her family would remark that it was “off the record.” Local business owners raved at the outreach their radio appearances had on business while listeners loved getting to know them in new ways. Beth continued her work in local media, as a salesperson for the Hornell-Canisteo PennySaver for several years, then returned with “The Beth Moore Show, this time broadcast on Hornell’s WHHO Radio. In her later years, she fought valiantly against the ravages of vascular dementia.
Surviving are her daughters Lisa (Terry) Sanford of Canisteo, Jodi-Lynn Stephens (Donna Saltsman) of Bath and Marcia Stephens of Syracuse. She is also survived by her much-loved granddaughter, Katharine Sanford of London, England, special cousins Patricia Davison (Richard) of Canaseraga and Bobbie (Elias) Lopez of Pasadena, California, step-sister Dorothy Ryan of Bath, step-children Karen Lowry of South Carolina and Craig Hammond of Hornell, as well as her former husband John Moore.
A celebration of life service will be announced through the Brown and Powers Funeral Home and held at a later date. Until that time, please share your fond memories of Beth with a remembrance at www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com, or on Facebook @brownpowersfh. Memorials in Beth’s memory are welcome to support the Hornell Area Humane Society or the Hornell YMCA.
Beth’s family thanks all who showed friendship and supported Beth until her passing, with a special thank you to the caring staff at Taylor Health Center.
