Elizabeth Clare Moore

Elizabeth (Beth) Moore died shortly after getting back to her beloved home on February 14, 2025. She was born Elizabeth Clare Pemberton to Richard Randolph and Elizabeth (Bond) Pemberton in Chico California on March 30, 1943. She was the oldest of two children born to parents who married later in life. Her parents met over a car purchase, after her mother travelled west from Chicago, following various job opportunities made possible by a degree in nursing. From the beginning, Beth’s parents emphasized family and travel, from early childhood camping trips to train rides out east to visit her mother’s family.

Beth was fearless. In the summer of her junior year of high school, she went alone by train to study journalism at Northwestern University on a community funded scholarship. It was 1960 and the National Democratic Convention was in Chicago, and a young, exciting Senator was vying for the party nomination for President. A few years later, as a newlywed, Beth moved to East Lansing, where she completed her education at Michigan State University and her husband, Richard, began his long career at the MSU Computer Center.

After attending Dr. Martin Luther King’s 1965 speech on MSU’s campus, Beth was inspired to blend her love of politics, journalism and education while being both a student and a young mother. In 1968, she found a perfect fit in The League of Women Voters (LWV). She remained an active member for the rest of her life. In the 1970s, she served on the LWVMI State Board, chaired the Election Law Study and served as Lansing Area League President from 1978-79. After retirement and the death of her husband, Beth returned to a more active role in the LWV, serving on the State Advocacy Committee from 2012-2020 and as co-President of the Lansing Area LWV from 2016-2019. Her service was recognized by her peers, who presented her with the LWV’s Helen Milliken Leadership in Civic Empowerment Award at the 2019 statewide convention. She continued to stay involved as a member and participated virtually as a delegate in the 2024 LWV National Convention from the comfort of her home while hosting other local delegates.

Beth found a professional home in Michigan State University Extension(MSUE), the part of the University dedicated to public outreach and education. In her role as MSUE Public Policy Specialist, Beth built relationships across Extension’s County network. She led MSU Extension’s educational ballot initiative effort to provide voters with unbiased information about statewide issues, a model which continues to be used today. In 2004, Beth received the MSU Distinguished Staff Award for exemplary leadership to educate staff, Michigan citizens, youth and policy makers at all levels of government about how to be informed citizens and effective elected officials.

Beth’s love of travel and exploration was shared by her husband and nurtured in their daughters. The earliest car trips crossed the country to visit family in California and by the time Beth retired, she had driven in all fifty of the United States, all ten of the Canadian Provinces and all eighty-three counties in Michigan. Beth’s adventures overseas began with trips to England and Scotland, then expanded to Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Japan. In 2003, the arrival of a much-wanted grandchild changed the focus of their travel, as Beth made sure that they spent their time in Portland, Oregon, making that city a second home. Her last trip was to celebrate Charlie’s High School graduation.

Although diagnosed with a chronic disease, rheumatoid arthritis, in the late 1990s, Beth did not let it deter her from the communities and travel she loved. She embraced the medical technology that supported her independence and mobility. As independent movement became more challenging in recent years, she appreciated the rarity of a well-designed ADA hotel room, smooth pavement transitions, wide doorways and ramps. She often mentioned how grateful she was for the federal regulations, building codes and community investment that support accessibility for everyone.

Although her body was slowing down, her mind was never impacted. She read local and national newspapers daily, followed favorite writers at the Atlantic and the New Yorker and was an avid fan of Heather Cox Richardson and Connie Schultz. As travel became more difficult, she focused on local adventures, planning visits to newly opened area restaurants and attending Wharton Center events.

Beth was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Moore and her parents, Richard and Elizabeth Pemberton. She is survived by her daughters, Lisa Moore and Sara (Scott) Mease and beloved grandson Charles Mease; brother Richard (Connie) Pemberton; sister-in-law Ginger (Moore) Briles and brother-in-law Jim Moore. She will be remembered and missed by nieces and nephews and numerous colleagues, friends and neighbors. Her dear friends, Judy Karandjeff and Sandy Stuckman have been a source of strength and support throughout the years and especially these last months.

A celebration of life will be held on May 9th, 2025. Visitation will start at 1PM and a memorial service will be held at 2PM at Edgewood United Church, 469 N Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823. There will be light refreshments following the service. To view the livestream, please visit https://www.youtube.com/live/pzURsPsVDqk

In lieu of flowers, donations to the League of Women Voters, MI Educational Fund, The East Lansing Public Library, Arthritis Foundation and Michigan 4H Foundation are appreciated.