Bettye Tripplehorn Moulton

Bettye Tripplehorn Moulton passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at St. Edwards Medical Center. She was 95 years old. Bettye was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Dr. Everett C. Moulton Jr., her parents Mr. and Mrs. D.R. Tripplehorn of Fort Worth, Texas, as well as her two brothers, Jim and Bob Tripplehorn of Pampa, TX and a sister, Goldie Brooks of Fort Worth, TX. Bettye was born in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, in 1917 and moved to Fort Worth, Texas, with her family when she was two years old. Bettye graduated from Stevens College in Columbia, Missouri, in 1937 and from the Parsons School of Design of the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts in 1939. In 1940 she made her debut at the Steeplechase Ball in Fort Worth, Texas. She met her future husband in Creede, Colorado, in 1938 and they were married in Denver, Colorado, in 1941. In 1948 Bettye and her growing family moved back to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where her husband entered medical practice with his father, Dr. E. C. Moulton Sr. Bettye was very active in the community. She served as president of the Sebastian County Medical Auxiliary. She was a member of the Service League (later the Junior League of Fort Smith), founding member of the Razorback Ski Club, President of the Fort Smith Arts Center, and a founding member and later President of the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation, where she was instrumental in the restoration of the Clayton House. Bettye was also on the boards of both the Bonneville House and Clayton House. In 1994 she was awarded a Heritage Focus Award by the Secondary Social Studies Educators of Fort Smith for her work in the preservation of Fort Smith History. A past president of the Women of the First Presbyterian Church, she was active in her church circle until well into her 90s. She was also actively promoted the arts in Fort Smith as the owner of Moulton Galleries for thirteen years. Memorial Service will be 1:00 PM Friday, May 17, 2013 at First Presbyterian Church with a private family committal at the Fort Smith National Cemetery, under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. She is survived by one daughter, Dr. Betty Lynn Moulton of Maui, HI; three sons, Dr. Everett “Kit” Moulton III of Fort Smith, David Moulton of Fort Smith, and Dr. James Moulton of Denver, CO; six grandchildren, Dr. Allyson Moulton of Columbia SC, Juliette Moulton of Little Rock, AR, Mackenzie Moulton of Fort Smith, Sarah Gancher and her husband Richard Stinson of Brooklyn NY, Elizabeth Gancher of Oakland, CA, and Margo Moulton of Fayetteville, AR; one great grandson, Alex Moulton of Fayetteville, AR. Memorials may be sent to: Fort Smith Heritage Foundation, 514 North 6th Street, Fort Smith, AR, First Presbyterian Church, 116 North 12th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, or to Mercy Hospice, 5401 Ellsworth Road, Fort Smith, AR 72903. Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com