Melvin Moran was born Sept. 18, 1930, in St. Joseph, Missouri, to European Jews. He lived through more than one Depression and rose to the top through the economic highs and lows of the last 80 years, filling his life with humor and fun along the way. He served in a top secret unit of the United States Air Force in London, where he met a West End showgirl and made her his wife. Though most of his life was spent in a small town in central Oklahoma, Moran lived history first-hand through friendships with politicians and history-makers worldwide. None of that helped him, however, when the crisis of his life left him alone and near death in a Jerusalem hotel room. His ultimate victory resulted in his incredible contribution to Oklahoma s children, The Jasmine Moran Children s Museum, which will have impact far beyond Moran s lifetime.

Moving Heaven and Earth: The Life of Melvin Moran

Karen Anson

Oklahoma Heritage Association

<p>An incredible tale that began with a visit from God in a Jerusalem hotel room spins to its conclusion in a small economy-stricken town half a world away. The man, Melvin Moran, moved by his after-death experience, made a promise that he still tries to keep 30 years later. With divine intervention, observed and remarked upon by many along the way, the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum became a reality. There were many times that things should not have happened, but did. From phantom donors to mishaps-turned-golden, the creation of the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum, in a time and place where everyone knew it could not work, was indeed a miracle, and a dream that could only come true with the hard work of a truly good man, with his wife and his God behind him.</p>

The Impossible Dream: The Miracle of the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum

<p>A seven-year-old child sent far away from her mother as the bombs of World War II exploded all around her, Jasmine Moran had to grow up quickly to care for her two-year-old sister. When the daughter of the family she evacuated to became increasingly unkind, Jasmine had to find her way out of the situation. Returning home was not an option. From the fields adjacent to the Hornchurch, Essex, aerodrome the stage of London s West End, Jasmine Moran makes choices that ultimately bring her to Oklahoma. The many works of philanthropy by Jasmine and her husband Melvin Moran are legendary. Well known is their founding and ongoing support for the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum in Seminole, a premier place for children to learn and grow. Possibly less known, but just as close to her heart, is her work as an animal rights activist, which culminated recently with Seminole s new animal shelter. Finding her path from the explosions of World War II London to the relative tranquility of life in small town America, Jasmine Moran's choices make interesting reading and show us that tough beginnings can inspire resilience and good works.</p>

The Path I Chose: In My Own Words

Jasmine Moran

Oklahoma Hall of Fame

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Books by Karen Anson

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Karen Anson. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Moving Heaven and Earth: The Life of Melvin Moran

The Impossible Dream: The Miracle of the Jasmine Moran Children's Museum

The Path I Chose: In My Own Words