Rosalie (Rolie, Rollie, Roly) Ethel Moore
(m John H.D. Barrett, m Dennis Pierce)
November 8 1912 - August 5 1999
Rosalie Moore was born in Vancouver. Her father, Montague Moore, was born in
Bideford, England. Her mother Ethel Hutchings was born in Winnipeg MB.
Moore was an early graduate from the Vancouver
School of Decorative and Applied Arts, receiving her diploma in 1931.
1931 Graduating Class
Her artwork was published in the December 1930 issue of The Paint Box, including
one pen and ink advertisement on page 2 illustrated above, and a linocut print (see
below) on page 52 illustrating an article on The Flyling Omlet, which
was the nick name for her yellow Studebaker convertible.
The Spring 1936 edition of The Smock Pocket, the
Vancouver School of Art Graduates' Association newsletter,
noted that she and her sister Hazel "are leaving in May for
a tour of Europe. Since graduation Roly has received her private Pilot's Licence."
According to Mrs. Violet Kinnear, the Moore family lived in Hart
House, Burnaby, although when Rosalie married John Henry Desmond Barrett in
Vancouver on December 1, 1939 her address was given as 3820 Douglas Road,
Burnaby Lake, B.C. The marriage certificate noted her occupation as a "pilot"
age 27 who was born in Vancouver. A birth certificate was not found in a search
of BC Vital Statistics. Barrett was a civil engineer aged 26 from London, England.
He died overseas in World War Two, location "in the field (Belgium)" after an
accident "due to a collision with another truck" on November 2, 1944.
"The Flying Omlet", photograph courtesy Mrs. Violet Kinnear
Moore was a member of a female pilots group known as the "Flying Seven" that was
founded in Vancouver in 1936. The group had a colourful history that is well
documented on a number of web sites including the two listed below. The "Flying
Seven" were still active as recently as 1980.
According to information in NO PLACE FOR A LADY, following World War Two
Moore was "widowed by the war and with a youngster to support" and expanded her
pilot qualifications, becoming the "second Canadian woman to earn a Public
Transport Licence" and "Canada's first woman charter pilot." She worked for
Associated Air Taxi and for the B.C. Aero Club. Her second husband, Dennis Pierce,
was also a pilot. BCVS does not have a certificate for this marriage.
Later in life Moore lived on five acres in Mission, and had horses. One of her
favorite horses was allowed to come into the house on occasion.
Rosalie and a visiting horse, photograph courtesy Mrs. Violet Kinnear
Rosalie died in Coquitlam on August 5 1999 at the age of 86, occupation noted as
"at home - homemaker" widowed from Dennis Pierce. She was living at the Lakeshore
Care Centre. Her son Des Barrett signed the death certificate.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
References
NO PLACE FOR A LADY: the story of Canada's women pilots, 1928-1992
By Shirley Render, 1992; published by Portage & Main Press, Winnipeg Manitoba
ISBN 0-9694264-2-9; includeds bibliographical references and index, illustrations.
Includes information on the Flying Seven and Rosalie Moore
VSDAA / VSA - List of Students and Graduates 1925 - 1950
Interview with Mrs. Violet Kinnear, 124 West St. James Road, North Vancouver BC V7N 2P2
By Gary Sim and Michael Clark (Emily Carr University Archivist), April 11 2010.
Mrs. Kinnear is the niece of Ione Macdonald, a longtime
friend of Rosalie's.
B.C. VITAL STATISTICS ON-LINE first marriage, first husband's death, death
(refer to BCVS)
Clippings
"Besides Tosca, the club includes ... Rollie Moore, who's been giving her
Burnaby family wonderful frights by learning stunt flying ..."
The History of Metropolitan Vancouver
http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/archives_flying_seven.htm
"The 'Flying Seven' circa 1936 (from left to right) Jean Pike, Tosca
Trasolini, Betsy Flaherty, Alma Gilbert, Elianne Roberge, Margaret (Fane)
Rutledge, and Rolie Moore"
B.C. Aviation Hall of Fame
http://www.bcaviation.com/flying7s.htm
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