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.