Dr. Martha May Moore's Obituary
Dr. Martha May Moore age 74, of Little Rock Arkansas passed away on Monday January 15, 2024, from complications of cancer and pneumonia.
Martha was born in Oxford, North Carolina on February 17,1949 to Dr. E. Leon Moore from Blackshear Georgia and Dorothea (McNeal) Moore from Macon County Illinois.
Martha spent a week each summer at the farm of her maternal grandparents, S. Guy McNeal and Etta M (Sanner) McNeal. When at the farm, she attended the Sanner Chapel, founded by her grandmother’s forbearers.
Martha received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Western Maryland College and her PhD in Genetics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she met her husband of 40 years, Terry D. O’Brian.
Martha was an internationally recognized expert in the use of genetic toxicology data in chemical hazard identification particularly as it relates to cancer risk assessment. She worked for 36 years for the US Government, first at the EPA and then for the Food and Drug Administration. She more recently founded her own toxicology consulting firm.
Martha was a member of the Society of Toxicology, the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society, the Genetic Toxicology Association, and the European Environmental Mutagen Society. She received the Genetic Toxicology Association Excellence in Science Award in 2011. Martha has published more than 130 journal articles, papers and chapters.
Martha was a friend to budding scientists from around the world, and she sponsored many students from abroad to study in her lab in Arkansas.
Martha was a loving wife to her husband Terry and sister to her brother Sam. She was accomplished in many aspects of living, from camping, kayaking, golf, and gardening to sewing and baking. She used her considerable skills to take care of those around her in all aspects of her life. She was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Little Rock.
She is survived by her husband Terry D. O’Brian, of Little Rock Arkansas, brother Samuel L. Moore of Madison, Wisconsin, Sister in Law Susan (O’Brian) D’Angelo of Long Island, Brother in Law Mickey O’Brian of NY, and twenty three first cousins (mostly from Southeast Georgia and North Florida)
A burial and brief graveside service is to be held at Fairlawn Cemetery in Decatur IL, at 11:00 A.M. on Monday October 21, 2024. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the CARTI Cancer Center, 8901 CARTI Way, Little Rock AR 72205-6523.
The Graceland-Fairlawn Funeral Home is assisting in the burial.
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