Betsy moulton

Elizabeth "Betsy" Adams Moulton - 10/28/1936 - 9/15/2023


The matriarch of the original Moulton 5, soon to be the Moulton 21, is no longer confused or in pain after 7 long months of struggle following a stroke in February.  Thank you to all who loved and prayed for the mama hen and all of her little chickens.  Papa rooster still crows, though sadly right now.  (If you know Betsy, then you know of her obsession with roosters)  Mama Moulton’s Melodious Maidens (her three singing daughters who joined Betsy for a Pacific Chorale audition in 1980) were singing and praying and holding her hands as the struggle left her body.  Maybe she’s cooking and laughing with Julia Child right now, or at a heavenly choir rehearsal with choir friends who preceded her. Thank you to all her friends for your love and support!
 
Betsy was born in Milwaukee, WI to Betty and Lawson Adams. She attended Milwaukee University School (MUS) from kindergarten through 12th grade. Betsy later attended Wheaton College in Norton Massachusetts where she earned a BA in Musicology and where she met the love of her life, “Jerry” (Lester R. Moulton, III), as a freshman at a mixer between Wheaton and Harvard where Jerry was studying Economics. They married in 1957 and moved to Marblehead, MA where their three daughters were born.  
 
As they worked their way west, Betsy sang with the May Festival Chorus in Cincinnati OH and for the Mendelssohn Choir in Pittsburgh PA. In 1973, the family settled in Newport Beach, CA for good, and Betsy joined the Irvine Master Chorale, later renamed Pacific Chorale. She sang and served on various boards for nearly 40 years. Betsy had a thriving catering business and taught cooking classes at various schools including Fassero’s, Ma Cuisine, and Sherman Gardens, as well as private in-home classes. She expanded her cooking and teaching skills throughout the 70s and 80s studying under such luminaries as Julia Child, Wolfgang Puck, Jaques Pepin, and Simone Beck, as well as studying at La Varenne in Paris. She also supported Jerry’s love of sailing through their involvement in South Shore YC, Bahia Corinthian YC, and NOSA.

Beyond singing and cooking, Betsy’s greatest joy came from her family and friends. She is survived by her husband Jerry, her sister Prudence Fields (Bill), her three daughters Jill Cavanaugh, Lee Davis (Mark), and Kit Newman (Rick). Her grandchildren Emily Davis (Jeff Cirillo), Nick Curci (Claire Ramser), Danny Davis (Tina Parks), Erin Cavanaugh, Katie Curci, Chris Davis (Juliana Bontrager), and Liam Cavanaugh. She has four, great-grandchildren: Elliot, Lydia, Lily, and Lucy.
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In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Pacific Chorale, 3303 Harbor Blvd. Ste E5, Costa Mesa, CA. 92626.  

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Celebration of Life to be held Nov. 16

If you wish to attend Betsy's Celebration of Life in Newport Beach, CA, kindly RSVP by October 31, 2023.​​​