By Sherry Koonce
The News staff writer
Joye Weber often jokes that her husband reminds her of Ray Romano’s character on the television show, “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Arthur J. Weber, or Moon, as everyone knows him, has earned a reputation as a do gooder, someone who goes out of his way to tend to the needs of others. For his efforts, everybody loves him, his wife said.
Whether its making sure the widow ladies on his block don’t have to walk past their doorstep to get the morning newspaper, taking other’s garbage to the curb, or taking elderly people without transportation to the doctor, Moon Weber does what he can to help others.
And he does so quietly, with little fanfare or recognition.
“I don’t think I do anything special. I’m just trying to live the Christian way of life. If you live according to your faith, you are supposed to help others,” Moon Weber said.
The 82-year-old Port Arthur resident was nominated for The News 2008 Citizen of the Year by his neighbors, Jo Ann and Jerome Webre.
“He is such a deserving and humble man. He will never tell you of the things he does, but his actions speak louder than words,” the Webres said of their neighbor.
A devout Catholic and member of St. Charles Parish in Nederland, he attends mass every day, and is a faithful worker for that parish as well as for Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
He takes communion to shut-ins twice a week. If a priest needs help, he is the one to call.
In their nomination letter, the Webers wrote, “Our block has several senior citizens who are no longer able to drive to Beaumont, but if one of them ha a doctor’s appointment there, just call Moon. If a car needs to go to the shop, Moon will follow you there and take you back to get your car. He and his wife, Joye, grocery shop every single Friday for elderly...He never fails to visit the sic or to sit with a family member at the hospital when a loved one is having surgery.”
And, that’s just the beginning of the many helpful things Moon Weber does on a daily basis to help others, including his family.
In 1994, Moon Weber and his wife, Joye, or Tee, as most know her, moved to Birmingham, Alabama to help raise their grandchildren after their daughter-in-law died.
They stayed for three years, doing what they could to ease their son and grandchildren’s burden before moving back to Port Arthur in 1997.
When his mother and his mother-in-law were in the nursing home, Moon and Tee Weber made three trips a day to feed them.
Moon Weber is often called on to watch his neighbors’ homes if they are out of town. While they are away, he picks up their papers, checks their mail and watches over their houses — even turning on their air conditioners so the house will be cool before they get home.
He’s also known as the neighborhood handyman, Tee Weber said of her husband. Right now, he’s helping his cousin repair her Bridge City home after Hurricane Ike flooded it.
Moon Weber said he is glad to help others, after all, that’s what his mama taught him to do.
“My mother lived to be 95 years-old. I never heard her say no to anybody in need. I guess that rubbed off on me,” he said. “I don’t think I do anything special, and am glad people think of me the way they do, but I really don’t need any praise for doing what everybody ought to be doing — just helping out where I can.”
Contact this reporter at skoonce@panews.com.
