Annie Doris Moore Zoch

Annie was born in Giddings, Texas on July 12, 1930, the third child of Seth Sheppard Moore and Ella Lee York Moore. Following early years on the family farm and work at the LCRA, Annie married Calvin Herman Zoch in 1950 and helped to build their business, Zoch’s Laundry in Giddings. The growing family moved to Victoria, Dallas, and San Antonio before arriving in Beaumont in 1957.  Annie, Calvin and daughters settled a few years later into their new home in Tyrrell Park, where she avidly supported school, community, and church activities.  She was a devoted stay-at-home mom during daughters’ early childhood. After attending Chenier Business School, Annie worked as a secretary for Gulf States Utilities, then at Velsicol Chemical until retirement.   

Annie freely shared her creative talents.  She enjoyed sewing her own and daughters’ clothing, refurbishing antiques, arranging and contributing flowers and greenery from her yard for centerpieces at church and school events, preparing home-grown veggies and comfort foods, and using Calvin’s “catch” to serve up her ultimate feast of seafood gumbo that was renowned in neighborhood.  Annie taught swimming at Alice Keith Pool in 1960s, and then continued a lifetime appreciation of nature, especially waterways, when visiting Texas parks, rivers, lakes, beaches, as well as Caribbean. Her love of wildlife was evidenced by the constant feeding and watering of the multitude of birds, squirrel and rabbits that frequented her back yard.

She directed the children’s choir at Tyrrell Park Baptist Church and later served on a committee to rebuild after the original structure burned. Her love of music extended to the classical LPs often played in the home.  She helped organize neighborhood watch and community effort with municipality to improve drainage infrastructure in the Tyrrell Park neighborhood.  She was dedicated and involved in her daughters’ lives, serving as chaperone for school trips, planning beach outings, teaching homemaking skills, and encouraging them to reach for the highest star. She was later thrilled to take the “Gran & Toots” show on the road to again share her imagination and creativity with grandchildren.

She is survived by four daughters, Patricia Doolittle and her husband, James, Nancy Zoch, Suzanne Archer and her husband, Rod, and Denise Archer and her husband, Gary. She is also survived by brother, Randell and his wife, Lorene Moore; and sister, Mary McCain. She was the proud grandmother of Josh Archer, Zachary and his wife, Allie Doolittle, Kaileigh Archer, Shawn and his wife, Nicki Ryan, Jeffrey and his wife, Jessica Archer, Chelsea Ryan, Jonathan Doolittle, Scott Archer, and Kory Doolittle; great-grandmother of Autumn and Anthony Doolittle.

She is preceded in death by her parents; half-brother, Durwood; and husband, Calvin. 

We rejoice that Annie may now enter her Lord’s kingdom free of earthly affliction. A gathering of her family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., Saturday, March 3, 2012, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont, followed by a funeral service at 5:00 p.m., at Broussard’s.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Broussard’s. According to Annie’s wishes, the family will privately scatter her ashes.