Correna Ann (Moore) Schoonover

Correna (Moore) Schoonover

July 4, 1939 — Sept. 20, 2023

Correna (Moore) Schoonover of Elkhurst, W.Va., is singing with a choir of angels today after passing away Sept. 20 from a sudden illness. She was 84.

Correna is preceded in death by her husband of nearly 54 years, Gilbert “Gabo” Schoonover; their son Gil Schoonover; her parents, Early and Velma Moore; and brothers Blaine, Dean, J.D., Robert, Trellis and Jerry Moore.

She is survived by daughters Vanessa (Scott) Hite, Tanya (Roger) Wolfe, Cheri Burdette and Kelley (Marty) Gillenwater; and daughter-in-law LaVerne Schoonover. She also leaves behind three sisters, Geneva Duckworth, Charlotte (Donville) Deems and Janet (Michael) Johnson; brother Eric (Melanie) Moore; and four sisters-in-law, Joan (Trellis) Moore, Doris (Dean) Moore, Evalena (Walter) Schoonover and Carole Schoonover.

Correna was Grandma to 10 grandchildren: Nikki (Jay) McGhee, Eric (Chrissy) Morris, Dustin (Amy) Burdette, Matthew (Alysia) Burdette, Rachel (Michael) Ashworth, Maile Schoonover, Keanu Schoonover, Brianna (Brad) Owens, Elizabeth Hite and Piper Gillenwater. She was also graced with eight great-grandchildren: Blake and Rustin Morris; Ever and Emma Burdette; Kamrin and Cori Floyd; and Elias and Laurel Ashworth. She also had many beloved nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Correna was the fifth of 11 children in a very musical family. Her guitar-picking, country-western and gospel crooner father actually named her after the song “Corrina, Corrina” – a song Gabo could often be heard singing (albeit a bit off key) to her around the house. As a young woman, Correna would occasionally perform with her father on a TV gospel program. She also sang often in church and could always be heard humming or singing at home or on car trips. As the oldest daughter, she helped take care of her younger siblings. She also babysat for several relatives and neighbors. Perhaps it was this early experience with children that helped make her a magnet for babies (who always eagerly returned her smiles and waves after catching her eye) and an incredible mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Following graduation from Clay County High School, Correna worked for a few years as a secretary for a local attorney before settling down to raise her family and helping, for a stint, handle the bookkeeping at Gabo’s service station in Clay. She was deeply involved in the Lizemores Church of the Nazarene for most of her life, serving as a Sunday school teacher, board member, and sometimes, because of her passion for praising the Lord in song, as choir leader. She also was one of the founders of the former Clay Church of the Nazarene.

Whatever she did – whether it was quilting, gardening, cooking for her family or canning vegetables or her delicious apple butter (which went great on her equally delicious homemade biscuits) – she put her heart and soul into it.

Services will be held at the Lizemores Church of the Nazarene on Tuesday, Sept. 26. Visitation begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by the funeral at 1 p.m. and then interment at Clay Memorial Gardens.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.carlwilsonfuneralhome.com

Wilson Smith Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Schoonover family.

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