Walk past the Moran home on any given afternoon and you might hear the sound of

piano practice drifting through the windows, the thud of tennis shoes heading out the

door, or the laughter of four children chasing after their Boston Terrier, Teddy. Life in the

Moran household is a joyful mix of service, extracurricular activities, and family fun.

Dr. Patrick Moran and his wife Cassie, along with their children Patrick Michael (11), Marion (9), Oliver (7), and Charlotte (2), have called Shadow Valley home for the past seven years. Add in Teddy and their adventurous kitten, Mittens, and the Moran family is as lively as they come.

 

The Morans moved to Northwest Arkansas after Patrick graduated from the University

of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. Their story began years earlier in Austin, Texas, where they met at Shady Grove, a spot known for brisket nachos and live music

under pecan trees. They later tied the knot at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center,

where guests danced in the garden under twinkling lights, surrounded by cactus

centerpieces that honored the Texas landscape they loved.

 

Before becoming a dentist, Patrick earned a degree in Landscape Architecture from

Kansas State University and worked on major design projects in Texas, including the

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and the Hunt Headquarters in Dallas. That

passion for shaping outdoor spaces still influences the way the family enjoys nature

together today.

Patrick balances two demanding roles: he is the owner and general dentist at Dentistry of the Ozarks in downtown Springdale while also serving as a Major in the Arkansas Army National Guard. Each month, he travels to Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Little Rock for drill weekends, reflecting a life built on service.

 

Cassie brings her own professional expertise to the mix. With a master’s degree in

Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, she has worked with clients including

The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Dell Technologies. Now she manages marketing for

Dentistry of the Ozarks while raising their four children.

 

The Moran children keep their schedules buzzing. Patrick Michael splits his time

between tennis and gymnastics, Marion is a Girl Scout Junior and was recently cast in the Nutcracker ballet at The Conservatory of Classical Ballet, and Oliver plays baseball, and flag football. All three older children also study piano, while little Charlotte happily tags along, soaking up the action.

 

Creativity runs deep in the family. Patrick has a passion for watercolor painting, Marion

delights in cake decorating, and Oliver has a quirky hobby of collecting popcorn

buckets. His latest find — a spinning, light-up Prince Charming carousel bucket from

Disney World that plays music.

Travel is one of the Moran family’s favorite ways to connect. This past summer, they

road-tripped to the Black Hills of South Dakota, where history and adventure filled every

stop. At Badlands National Park, the children were wide-eyed as a paleontologist

explained the dinosaur bones they were holding. At Sylvan Lake, they climbed boulders

and fished from the shore, creating the kind of summer memories that become family

lore. 

 

Closer to home, the Morans enjoy Wright’s BBQ and Sushi House and are fixtures at

Shadow Valley traditions like the Fourth of July parade, fireworks, and trick-or-treating

on Halloween.

 

The family enjoys participating in neighborhood sports as Patrick coaches Shadow

Valley Junior Team Tennis, while the kids swim for the Shadow Valley Sharks.

Patrick also plays in the Men’s Golf League and recently participated in the Member/Guest Tournament.

 

The family is committed to giving back beyond Shadow Valley as well. They support

Feed the 479 and Ronald McDonald House Charities. Cassie and Patrick Michael

volunteered at Promtastic this year, helping attendees create jewelry keepsakes, while Marion and Cassie enjoy helping decorate Cross Church for Christmas.

 

Asked what they love most about life in the neighborhood, Cassie points to the

traditions that make it full of family fun. For the Morans, Shadow Valley is more than an address — it’s a community that has embraced their family as they serve, celebrate, and grow together. From military service and local volunteering to ballet recitals and popcorn bucket collections, the Morans embody the balance of service and joy that makes Shadow Valley thrive.