Annabel Moore

Annabel “Tink” Moore peacefully passed away on August 13, 2023, in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida after a short illness. Born on Cape Breton Island in the Town of Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia on November 25, 1934, Annabel was the youngest of sixteen siblings. In honor of her participation in the construction of the Canso Causeway that connects the island of Cape Breton with the Nova Scotia mainland, she was chosen in 1954 to be the first woman to cross the causeway in a motor vehicle.

Shortly afterwards, this time self-propelled on a bicycle, she was approached by Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman Ronald M. Dick, who used the pretense of a faulty bicycle tire to conduct his initial investigation. Having been blessed with both brains and beauty, Annabel wisely chose to marry the Mountie to avoid possible criminal prosecution. This union resulted not only in a repaired tire, but the eventual birth of five loving daughters and many adoring grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ron and Annabel immigrated from Canada to Tallahassee, Florida in 1959 with their three young daughters, after Ron accepted an invitation to join the Florida Sheriff's Bureau as one of the state's first forensic scientists. Ron and Annabel soon added two more daughters to their growing family, all of whom spent their early years growing up in Tallahassee. The family was devout members of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church where the children attended school.

In 1970 the family relocated to Northern Virginia, but Annabel returned to her beloved Tallahassee in 1977 with her youngest daughter in tow. She was soon joined by several other daughters who also raised their families in Tallahassee, to the great joy of “Grandma Tink”. During these years, Annabel worked as an Executive Editor with Florida State University’s Instructional Design and Technology Department, making many lifelong friends amongst the professors and students she devoted her amazing editorial skills, compassion and warmth to on a daily basis.

In 1984 Annabel married Jim Moore, also a forensic science veteran of the Florida Sheriff's Bureau. The couple enjoyed many summers traveling in their Airstream throughout the country, while remaining devoted parents and grandparents to their rapidly growing family.

In 2022 Annabel relocated from Tallahassee to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida to join four of her daughters living in the area. In addition to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, some of the things Annabel enjoyed most in life were gardening, traveling, antiques, music, poetry, games (especially word games), her much loved cats and dogs and her beloved Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church family. Blessed with a twinkle in her eye, a smile on her face, a wonderful sense of humor, a rare kindness, and selfless generosity - Annabel was and will always be not only an unforgettable human being, but a true and unique blessing to all who were lucky enough to have crossed her path.

Annabel was preceded in death by her parents and 15 siblings, husbands Ronald Dick and Jim Moore, her beloved grandson Kevin Finan of Oakton, Virginia and many lifelong best friends. She is survived by her daughters Debra Davis, Joanne Finan (and son-in-law Joseph Finan), Nisha Vickers, Cindy Dick (and daughter-in law Lorraine Elder) of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; her daughter Doris Pomeranz of St. Thomas, USVI; grandchildren Patrick Finan, Daniel Finan, Jarrett Vickers, Ross Vickers, Ashley Pomeranz, Shaina Pomeranz Carneiro, Samantha Pomeranz, and Cameron Dick, as well as 14 beautiful and delightfully precocious great grandchildren. She is also survived by her special friend Robert Bustetter, a wonderful companion and honorary son to Annabel in her later life in Tallahassee.

In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to honor Annabel's memory is asked to send a donation in her name to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 624 Miccosukee Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32308. A Mass in Annabel's memory will be scheduled for a later date, and will take place at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, where her ashes will be interred in the columbarium. The family is grateful to the staff and residents of Somerby, Santa Rosa Beach and for the outpouring of love, sympathy and support we’ve received from our family and friends during this time of great loss.