Betty Marie Moak

Betty Marie Moak

Betty Marie Moak

NEW SCOTLAND — Betty Marie Moak (née Tenney) “was an independent woman who traveled the world,” her family said.

She died on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany. She was 92.

“She took care of herself right up until the last few weeks,” her son, Robert Moak, said. “She was out taking care of her property; she was a very independent woman.”

Mrs. Moak was born in Schenectady, on Oct. 22, 1925, to the late Irving Robert Tenney and Lillian Jackson Tenney.

Her parents worked at General Electric in Schenectady until they retired, Mr. Moak said.

As a child, Mrs. Moak lived in several different homes around Schenectady. Mr. Moak said that his mother used to talk a lot about one home in particular; it was was next door to a horse stable. She loved to ride horses, her son said. “She loved to talk about the time she rode a horse and buggy to an inn on Route 20, to make a delivery,” Mr. Moak said.

Mrs. Moak was a graduate of Draper High School.

She was young when she met and married Robert H. Moak Sr. They soon started their family, eventually having seven children.

Mr. Moak said that his father owned a couple of gas stations, where Mrs. Moak would work. In her work life, her son said, she was also employed at the Walter Motor Truck Company in Voorheesville, the New York State Dormitory Authority, and as a waitress at Happy’s Coach House in New Salem.

Mrs. Moak loved going to New Hampshire every June with her husband. Once there, they would go for long rides in the White Mountains.

Mr. Moak said his mother was very involved in the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the New Salem Fire Department, where she was a charter member, and always enjoyed being involved with the Punkintown Fair.

Her husband died when he was just 55 years old. She never remarried.

Mrs. Moak, exhibiting the independence her family spoke of, started traveling the world both near and far. She visited Ireland, Norway, Hawaii, Australia, and, while home in New Scotland, went on many of the local senior trips as well.

Even when she was home, she couldn’t sit still; Mrs. Moak could be found mowing her own lawn, taking care of her garden, or just watching the birds and wildlife that were around her home.

 

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Betty Marie Moak is survived by seven children: Beverly Moak, Barbara Willey Kiouses and her husband, Michael, Bonnie Moak White Smith, Robert H. Moak Jr. and his wife, Paulette, Bradley Moak and his wife, Karen, and Bruce Moak and his wife, Judy, and Barry Moak and his wife, Pam; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her brother, Irving Robert Tenney, and her sister, Virginia Greene.

Her husband, Robert H. Moak Sr., died before her.

There will be no wake or funeral.

Memorial contributions may be made to the New Scotland Presbyterian Church, 2010 New Scotland Rd, Slingerlands, NY 12159 or to the New Salem Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary, 694 New Salem Rd, Voorheesville, NY 12186.

— Sean Mulkerrin

Correction: The list of survivors was corrected.

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