Mary Kate Moulton

Mary Kate Moulton, of Aiken, South Carolina, passed away on Saturday, August 15th.

Mary Kate grew up in Los Angeles and San Francisco and attended Foxcroft School, Château Brillantmont in Switzerland, and The American University of Paris. From an early age, she possessed an unmistakable sense of style, a quick wit, and an independent spirit that would remain with her throughout her life.

In the 1980s, Mary Kate worked for Yves Saint Laurent and managed the fashion house’s New York City store. Fashion and style became passions for her in New York City, and Mary Kate had an innate elegance that was entirely her own. Whether dressed for a horse show, entertaining friends, or simply at home with her dogs, she always brought a distinctive sense of beauty.

An accomplished equestrian, Mary Kate competed extensively on the West Coast circuits and remained deeply involved in the horse world throughout her life. In recent years, she became a horse show judge, bringing her experience, knowledge, and lifelong love of the sport to advising new and old friends.

For the past ten years, Mary Kate made her home in Aiken, South Carolina, a community that perfectly suited her love of horses, animals, and horse friends.

Mary Kate was an extraordinary animal lover, and perhaps none were more beloved than her Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. She showed her dogs competitively, including at Westminster Dog Show, an accomplishment of which she was enormously proud. Her dogs were constant companions and an important part of her life.

She was also a wonderful cook for her extended family and loved entertaining. She will be remembered for her fish tacos, tuna melts and cheese soufflés. Mary Kate had the rare ability to make things, including food, feel exceptional without ever making them feel overly pretentious.

During the COVID pandemic, her humor unexpectedly found a much larger audience when Mary Kate began making TikTok videos. Her dry wit, dark humor, candid observations and unmistakable style resonated with viewers, and her videos went viral, earning her a devoted following. Her family knew she was famous when kids on her nephew’s hockey team in a different part of the country were asking her nephew if she was related or family. It was quintessentially Mary Kate: original, stylish and completely herself.

She approached life with humor and remarkable positivity given that both her parents were deceased at a young age and she lived alone with her animals. She was stylish without trying, funny without performing, and possessed an energy that drew people to her. She treasured her friends, her family, her animals and the many different communities that became part of her life.

Mary Kate was predeceased by her beloved mother, Mary Mahaney Heafey. She is survived by her brother, John Henry Moulton, and his wife, Mimi Moulton; her nieces, Eloise and Stephanie; and her nephew, John Henry Moulton Jr.

She will be deeply missed by her family, her many friends, and all those fortunate enough to have known her. Her wit, generosity of spirit, impeccable style and singular presence will not be forgotten. A private celebration of Mary Kate’s life will be held at a later date.

SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801