Al and Becky Moreton Leave Lasting Bond with Rudy

Cristen Hemmins took this photo of Rudy in Tom’s arms on the way to St. Peters.

After the tragic loss of Al and Becky Moreton, a well-known couple in the Oxford community, were laid to rest at the St. Peter’s Cemetery last week. The couple’s loved ones honored them by walking from the Oxford-University United Methodist Church to St. Peter’s Cemetery- a walk the Moreton’s took daily.

The Moretons touched the hearts of various locals and visitors around the Oxford community with their community service work and kind personalities. The couple’s sweet nature stemmed beyond just their friends and neighbors- even the animals of Oxford. The couple grew to have a very special bond with a cat named Rudy.

Al and Becky’s Walk

On their daily walk, the couple made many friends by greeting everyone and spreading joy. The Moretons walked by Rudy’s house at least once a day, some days two or three times, according to the cat’s owners, Tom and Carol Sharpe. Rudy ran down the driveway to greet Al and Becky every time the couple walked by. If Rudy missed them, the Moretons would call and wait for the cat to come out.

Tom describes Rudy as being a very friendly cat that greets everyone, but the cat had a special relationship with Al and Becky. Since Rudy was so close to the Moretons, it was only fitting for the cat to attend the couple’s service. As everyone walked from the church to the cemetery, Rudy went too, in the arms of Tom.

A Treasured Friendship

Tom Sharpe knew Al and Becky Moreton for decades and described them as “incredible people.” The Moretons had so much love for each other. Tom recalled that Al bought Becky flowers every Saturday for as long as he could remember.

“The only good thing about their passing is that one doesn’t have to live without the other,” Tom said.

A friend of Al and Becky’s, Cristen Hemmins, took a photo of Rudy at the cemetery.

“It’s amazing what an impact a couple can make just by being so very physically present in the community. I would guess that they would be surprised at what an impression they made on so many,” Hemmins said. “Even people who didn’t know them to talk to them were very aware of them as icons of Oxford, and could tell how much they loved each other. They were inspiring.”

Allie Seay is an intern for hottytoddy.com and a student at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. She can be reached by contacting emily.newton@hottytoddy.com.

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