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- The Neptune Society of Northern California
Moray Joan Black
FEBRUARY 11, 1929 – JULY 13, 2020
Passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 13th in Fairfield, California at the age of 91. She was born in the family home in Monnett, Missouri to Joseph E.V. and Loretta Black (Summers) and grew up in towns across the Midwest and west. She is predeceased by her parents, her sister Victoria, and her brothers, Lorne and Berkeley, her beloved friend Evelyn Morelock, and much lamented furry friends her Cairn terrier, Heather, and her German Shepard, Trooper. She is survived by her nieces Kathryn Black of New Braunfels, Texas, Aleta Robinson of Antelope California, Regina Morrison of Valley Center, California, Cheri Black (Jerry Brule) of Eugene Oregon. and her nephews Craig Black (Ann) of Nokomis, Florida, Victor Peiffer (LaVeda) of Wildomar, California and many grandnieces and grandnephews.
Moray attended the University of Nevada in Reno. Originally a pre-med major, she instead got her degree in history. After graduating in 1950, she taught school for one bleak year in Austin, Nevada. Discovering teaching was not the career for her, she joined the Women's Army Corps (WACs). Her military career included duty at the Presidio of Monterey, where she was a Staff officer. She was commanding officer for WAC detachments at many duty stations including in Munich, Germany, eventually retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
She traveled extensively while in Europe and especially treasured the memories of trips she took as a "space available passenger" One of these trips was on a Navy ship with ports of call in the Mediterranean, in Tripoli, Istanbul, and finally through gale force winds as the ship arrived in Athens.
Moray's second professional life was in the Internal Revenue service where she was much loved and admired by those in her management group. She retired from the IRS in San Jose, California and remained in her home there, traveling often to visit friends and family and attend Elder Hostel events around the U.S.
In 2000, Moray moved to Paradise Valley Estates in Fairfield, California. Moray enjoyed the new environment and always said she loved the other residents in the PVE community better than anything else about it. She could really cut a rug and thoroughly enjoyed dancing at the PVE celebrations. She also enjoyed doing line dancing, Chi Gong and yoga classes, as well as community trips for concerts and theater.
Moray was an ardent sports fan and was a big supporter of the Bay Area teams, the A's, the Giants, the 49ers, and the Warriors. She knew all there was to know about the players and teams. If there was a game on, she was riveted to it. She followed many other sports as well and loved the Olympics.
Moray was so many things: a loving daughter, sister and aunt, proud of her Scottish heritage and her Methodist upbringing, avid crossword puzzle enthusiast, a stickler for details, an eager traveler, ever-ready to join in an outing, a leadership volunteer in professional organizations, supporter of women's rights, ferocious advocate for the downtrodden, a devoted friend, a stalwart companion. She was often the only port in a storm for her loved ones and often the only person in the Black family to whom nearly everybody was talking. She kept in touch with family all over. She was very grateful for her life, and made it a point to fall asleep counting her blessings.
Those that knew Moray will always remember her sharp mind, her outspokenness, her resistance to persecution, and her love of history. She often clarified, "I was named for the Moray Firth in Scotland, not the ee1!"
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1929 - 2020 (91 years)
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