Judy Moos Welton - Obituary

“She endeavored to know her subject intimately.” Judy Moos Welton, 81, passed away peacefully on August 18, 2026, in Manchester, Connecticut. Born in Tampa, Florida to Arline G. (Detlefs, Moos) McCoy and Earl W. Moos, Judy was a 1962 graduate of Suitland High School. In 1963, she married the love of her life, Edward C. Welton. Together, they enjoyed 53 years of deep love and companionship, raising their children in Suitland and Upper Marlboro, Maryland, before later retiring to Centreville, Maryland. Following a brief period working in the newsroom at NASA, Judy channeled her boundless creativity into a lifelong career as a self-employed artist and antiques dealer. As a primarily self-taught artist, she relied on her own discipline, innate ability, and rigorous study to master her craft. Her extraordinary talent gained national recognition; her artwork was featured on the covers of major wildlife magazines and selected by the National Wildlife Federation and the National Audubon Society for promotional use. She leaves behind a magnificent visual legacy through her paintings of seascapes, waterfowl, Western landscapes, and Native American subjects. Her passion for history and preservation led her to begin collecting antiques when she was still in her early 20s, culminating in the launch of her business, Crazy Mountain Trading Company, in the 1980s. She opened her first shop in Bowie, Maryland, and later partnered with her close friend, Kathy Wilson, to run Crown Tours, leading antique-buying trips to England with fellow dealers. A constant and familiar face in the local antique community, Judy was a regular at Dixon’s Auction at Crumpton and maintained booths at Foxwell's and J.R. Russum’s Antique Center for many years. Judy’s life was defined by boundless imagination, fortitude and adventure. Her creativity was evident not just on canvas, but in the homes she built and renovated with her own hands, her beautifully styled colonial, western and rustic interiors, and the vibrant gardens she designed and tended. An avid traveler, Judy’s longing for adventure began with cross-country trips to visit her brother in Big Timber, Montana, in 1974. It was there that she developed a lifelong passion for the wildness of the American West and a deep appreciation for Native American handcraft and culture. Whether exploring the United States or traveling abroad, Judy was never alone; she was always accompanied by her beloved travel companions, her family and friends. Judy is survived by her son, Louis (Sheila) Welton; her daughter, Kristin (Nicholas) Eshelman; her cherished grandchildren, Emil and Kallie; and her brother, Millard “Tim” (Julie) McCoy. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Edward Welton; her parents, Arline and Millard “Lefty” McCoy; her biological father, Earl Moos; and her brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Judy Moos. Judy's family would like to give special thanks to Gifty Gborglah, Grace Gborglah and family, Ellen Wilson, Caroline Brew, Zeta Bentum, the staff of Masonicare at Mystic, and Masonicare Home Health and Hospice (Norwich and Glastonbury Branches) for their loving kindness and dedication to Judy's well being and happiness. A virtual memorial service is being planned, the details of which will be shared with family and friends as they become available. Judy will be laid to rest in a private ceremony in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association Online Here Online condolences and tributes may be shared by using the memories link on this page.