Elease Constance Moses, 69, 29-year government employee

WHEN CONNIE MOSES was a student at William Penn High School for Girls, her friends didn't need a dictionary or a thesaurus or a calculator. They had Connie.

"Long before there were computers, spell check or auto correct, there was Connie," her family said. "She was a walking Webster's Dictionary and calculator for everyone."

Connie carried this attention to detail and her amazing memory through her life, taking them to her job as a supply analyst for the Naval Aviation Supply Depot, and as the undisputed authority on the Bible.

In fact, she didn't hesitate to correct anyone, including preachers, when they misquoted a Bible passage.

Elease Constance Moses, a 29-year veteran of government service, a champion cook and baker who loved to host family gatherings, the bigger the better, an active churchwoman and loving mother and aunt, died March 25. She was 69 and lived in Logan.

Connie, as she was called by family and friends, cherished her many friendships. She was the kind of person who never met a stranger.

"If you walked past her house two times and said hello to her, by the third time you were her friend," her family said.

Connie was born in Philadelphia the fifth of the eight children of Featherstone and Elease Moses. She attended Paul Lawrence Dunbar Elementary School before going on to William Penn High. She was placed in a special academic program in high school because of her excellent grades. She was popular with both students and teachers and maintained friendships with them long after school.

After high school, Connie enrolled in the Opportunities Industrialization Center, where she met the Rev. Leon Sullivan, founder of OIC. "He told her she would be successful and encouraged her to attend," her family said.

Her first job was as a candy striper at Hahnemann University Hospital. She was then hired by the Naval Aviation Supply Depot of the Department of Defense.

She won promotions and the praise of her supervisors for her knowledge of the job and her work ethic. She had the responsibility of keeping records of materials purchased and their cost, as well as ordering supplies herself.

Because of her expertise, she was assigned to train new employees. She retired in 1996 after 29 years with the service.

As a child, Connie joined Mount Zion United Methodist Church, where she later taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and was active in other church ministries. In later life, she joined God's Church of the Apostles Doctrine.

Connie enjoyed cooking, especially baking, and would have nieces over for weekend baking parties during which they experimented with different ingredients.

"Not only could she bake, but greens and seafood salad were her signature dishes," her family said.

"Her house was a showcase, and she often hosted family functions, from graduations to birthday parties, and who could forget the Tupperware demonstrations?"

She had a wry sense of humor, and would tell friends, "When you go out, see if you can find me a man, not just any man, but an attractive rich man."

Connie loved dogs, and could name every breed. She also enjoyed shopping and was good at finding bargains, even if it meant using her persuasive powers to get a good price.

She collected antiques and loved to explore museums.

Connie's daughter, Rosalyn Patrice Moses, was born on Sept. 22, 1983.

"Rosalyn was her heart and soul," her family said. "She adored her and gave her the best of everything."

Tragically, Rosalyn was murdered in April 2009 at the age of 26. Her mother was heartbroken.

"No parent should have to experience the loss of a child," she said at the time.

Connie endured a number of serious physical problems in her later life, and was often in rehabilitation.

"She was a delightful person," said longtime friend Dr. Lorraine Poole-Naranjo. "No matter what she was going through, she maintained a cheerful, positive attitude."

Among her survivors are 15 nieces and three nephews.

Services: 10 a.m. tomorrow at National Temple Baptist Church, 1628 Master St. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Greenmount Cemetery.