- Date Of Birth: November 22, 1935
- Date Of Death: July 6, 2021
- State: Florida
Rachel Cobb Orcutt- formerly Rachel Moehle, Rockledge, died July 6th 2021 in Rockledge Florida following a brief illness. Mrs. Orcutt was born November 22, 1935 in Ft. Pierce, Fl., a descendant of the pioneer Hogg-Brown family, who moved to that area from Scotland in 1886.
A graduate of St. Lucie County High School and the University of Florida, she moved to Brevard County in 1958, where she taught English and journalism for several years at Cocoa High School. She was a member of Pi Kappa Phi and Kappa Delta Pi honoraries, and Alpha Omicron Pi social sorority. Mrs. Orcutt was active in community affairs during her lifetime, and was one of the founders of the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science in the late 1960’s, serving as chairman of its board of trustees as well as president of the Brevard Museum Guild. In 1986 she accepted a position as executive director of the museum.
During her ten-year tenure as Director she steered the institution through a major fund-drive and expansion program, culminating in a new wing which doubled the museum’ size. The addition made it possible in 1992 for the museum to accept an invitation from the Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C to join five other museums across the country in collaborating on a special exhibition celebrating the Columbus Quincentennial. She served two terms on the Brevard Community College Board of Trustees during this period, and prior to that was a member of the county’s U. S. Bicentennial Committee in 1976.
After leaving her position at the museum she was employed by the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce for five years as Director of the Better Business Council and Public Relations Director. During her retirement years she worked part-time as a free-lance writer and was the researcher and author of a book published in 2003, staying the course: Port Canaveral’s First 50 Years.
She is survived by her husband, Bert; her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Kris Moehle, Cocoa Beach. Her sister, Jeanette Cobb Willis, preceded her in death.
