Jeri Ann Moffett

Our hearts are filled with sadness at the loss of our precious Mother, but in our sadness, we also rejoice as she was welcomed into Heaven by our Lord and Savior with His words, "Well done, good and faithful servant". Mother was a woman of deep faith who cared greatly about family, church ministry and her community. We were blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us and we are thankful for the life lessons she taught us and how to care for others in need.

Mother was born to Russell Brice Wallace and Frances Aldene (Oliver) Wallace May 23, 1935, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and departed her loved ones September 25, 2024. Mother grew up in Okmulgee, Vinita, and then Muskogee, Oklahoma graduating in 1953. She was an active teenager at both Alice Robertson Junior High school and Muskogee's Central High school where she was head cheerleader, a member of the junior and senior play, and part of homecoming royalty, among other things. Many of her friends over the years told us she was probably the most popular girl in the high school. Not a surprise!

Not long after graduation, Mother's early years took her to Tulsa, Oklahoma where she started a young family and became a devoted Mother to her four children. She was involved in all of our activities from figure skating to baseball, football, and scouting, as well as swim lessons and ballet. She was such a fun parent hosting cute birthday, Valentine, and Halloween parties for all of us. At Halloween, our home was the 'place' to go for homemade treats and Christmas was extra special not only for our family but for all who came to visit. As we grew older, Mother would take all of us (including the grandchildren) to communion on Christmas Eve at Asbury Methodist church, then we would head back to her home for a delicious family dinner followed by gift giving and much laughter.

Mother was always very creative. As a child I remember her doing craft work with tiles and she had unique handmade items around our homes on the holidays. She made beautiful stained-glass pieces and worked on ceramics for years. Many of us, children and grandchildren alike, have some of her beautiful works of art and will treasure them always. Along with my grandmother's help, Mother's beautiful ideas for our homes came alive for all to enjoy. Mother had impeccable taste when it came to decorating and entertaining and the old homes we grew up in were such a joy for anyone that stepped foot inside.

After we were grown, and as the good Lord would have it, Mother's life found her in Fort Smith, Arkansas where she embraced her newly established friends, church and community and served the Fort Smith school system as a special education instructor for special needs children until her retirement. Mother thoroughly enjoyed her life in Fort Smith and became a core of that community. Her talents were not lost on the many committees and auxiliaries she supported with her time. She served as President for both the St. Edward Mercy hospital auxiliary and Salvation Army auxiliary along with helping fellow Junior League members with community impact projects. She was also a member of the River Valley Ovarian Cancer Alliance and helped 'lift up' and support women who had fought this dreadful disease as she had. Mother had a lot of enjoyment in her senior years as well posing as Mrs. Claus for the children and families of Fort Smith and entering the Ms. Arkansas Senior pageant where she won the talent competition and the award for Ms. Congeniality! Her family were all there to cheer her on!

Anyone that knew Mother could attest to her caring nature for all people, and it was evident in everything she touched, took part in or accomplished. Mother was so committed to her city that Mayor Ray Baker named a day after her! Mother was also committed to the ministry at her church teaching a class for the homeless, helping at Vacation Bible School, and volunteering in the church office in her golden years. She opened her beautiful old historic home many times to her homeless class and hosted get-togethers for not only friends but the community to share the love she had for all. Mother was a wonderful humanitarian with a 'big' heart that set an example for us to follow. One of Mother's many close friends told me this: "Jeri radiated kindness, goodness, concern, and loving care to all she knew".

Mother made our homes a warm and loving environment. Her home in Fort Smith was no exception. Her children, grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren would enjoy her company when we would visit Fort Smith and often stay over the weekends. This allowed each of us to get in a lot of 'love, hugs, and good meals'; Mother was a fantastic cook. She would plan fun excursions that we would experience too. We might find ourselves going to local 'seasonal' events with the Scottish Club, the Fort Smith Little Theatre, or just enjoy a good cheeseburger at George's restaurant which was one of our favorites. Our stays over the weekend would include attending Mother's beautiful old church as well! She truly loved the people at First United Methodist. Mother also continued to make Christmas extra special each year decorating the house from top to bottom, setting the formal dining room table beautifully with her lovely china - one of the things I will always remember from my childhood - and created memories for each of us that will never be forgotten. Mother's love was unwavering...she loved us unconditionally and her generosity was unmistakable!

In her last years, Mother moved back to the Tulsa area where family continued to create special moments sustaining her through each day that were filled with love, laughter, scripture reading, daily prayer, good movies, cookouts, and long drives through the city and countryside. Our lives were richly blessed having her as our Godly matriarch and her daily prayers and time spent in her prayer room included prayer for each of us. How fortunate and blessed we were to be her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren! She will forever be missed as we will have sad moments in the days, weeks, and months ahead, but God has assured us we will see her again one day.

Surviving are three of her four children, Linda Jones of Inola, Oklahoma, Marsha Conine of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Scott Herzfeld of Seminole, Florida along with her grandchildren Nick, Matt, and Megan Jones, Charity and Brandy Thompson, three great-grandchildren, Olivia and Kate Jones, and Tyler Thompson, and a host of friends that loved and adored her. Mother was preceded in death by her oldest son Curt Herzfeld and two grandsons - Zachary Thompson and Colton Herzfeld.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to First United Methodist Church of Fort Smith.

"With her legacy complete

In love, she returned home to God

To behold His face and be wholly healed

In joy forever more!"