First things first:
Hi! I’m Sarah.
I was adopted at birth in Bethesda, MD. We lived in State College, Pennsylvania before moving to Boulder, CO when I was 3 years old. I lived in Boulder until I graduated from high school, and then I moved to the Pacific Northwest, where I’ve lived ever since!
Like my mom, I love to read (mostly fiction - unlike my mom!), write, collect art supplies, clothes and jewelry. Professionally, most people know me from the time I spent working at non-profits and philanthropic foundations, building a coworking community, supporting student entrepreneurs at the University of Washington, running an early-stage startup accelerator program, and telling the stories of small business owners in the Greater Seattle area.
When my mom passed away, settling her affairs became a near full-time job. Even though she was organized and her affairs were not complex, it has been an incredibly challenging administrative experience. I am among the first of my friend group to lose a parent, and so I am navigating uncharted territory.
Left with a house full of books and “curious oddities”, I created the Betsy’s Books project as a creative way to channel my grief into action and to keep my mom’s legacy alive. Thanks for being here!
Now, meet my mom.
About Betsy
Elizabeth Mary Barton, PhD (also known as Betsy to close friends and family members), passed away on August 16, 2024 after a brief illness. Born on January 30, 1950 in Columbia, MO, Elizabeth was a passionate and dedicated mental health professional who devoted her career to helping others.
Elizabeth was a lifelong learner and held a BA in Psychology from West Virginia University (1972), an MS and PhD in Human Development from Pennsylvania State University (1974, 1978), an MBA from Pennsylvania State University (1981), and an MSW from the University of Denver (2000) which she embarked on at at age 48. Her extensive education and experience equipped her to provide compassionate and effective care to those she served.
Prior to obtaining her MSW, Elizabeth worked at Flatirons Elementary School as a volunteer paraeducator, a teacher at Sunshine House Montessori Preschool, and a volunteer with Hospice of Boulder County, providing one-on-one bereavement support and facilitating bereavement groups. She joined Mental Health Partners as a therapist in 2000, serving on the School Based Team and Child Adolescent and Family Services Team, in addition to seeing private clients.
Elizabeth was a voracious reader with a vast collection of books on topics ranging from psychology to mountaineering, from birding to life at sea - and she loved a good mystery. She was also a prolific writer who penned two unpublished novels, maintained extensive journals, and engaged in written correspondence with friends and loved ones. She enjoyed collecting rocks (particularly round rocks from the Olympic Peninsula) and fossils. In 2023, she and her children traveled to Lyme Regis, UK, specifically to see the Jurassic marine fossil beds that she had read so much about.
Above all, Betsy was a loving and devoted mother to her children, Sarah and Zachary. Her love for them was boundless, and she took great pride in their accomplishments.
Elizabeth is survived by her daughter, Sarah Barton Studer, of Seattle, WA, her son, Zachary Barton Studer, of Shrewsbury, England, and her six siblings, Sarah Barton (Alaska), Peter Barton (Washington), Rachel Barton (Oregon), Matthew Barton (Washington), Mary Agnes Barton Newbraugh (West Virginia), and Judith Barton Pearson (Pennsylvania). She was preceded in death by her father, Jay Barton II (2000), and her mother, Ann Taylor Barton (2006).
Elizabeth will be remembered as a loving and devoted mother to her children - her love for them was boundless, and she took great pride in their accomplishments. She will also be remembered for her independent spirit and meaningful friendships. Her legacy of kindness, empathy, and dedication to mental health will be deeply missed.
