Margaret Davis Clarke died Nov. 10 at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation at Laurel Lake in Lee.
Margaret was the daughter of the late Dr. George G. Davis and Alice Mildred Parker Davis and was born in Arcade, New York, Sept. 22, 1920. She was educated in Arcade schools, graduating from Arcade High School as valedictorian of the class of 1938. She continued her education at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She married Lester J. Clarke Aug. 8, 1942, in the Arcade Methodist Church.
The Clarkes first lived in Bath, New York, and, after Lester entered Civilian Public Service as a conscientious objector in 1943, Margaret joined him at Camp 27F in Orlando, Florida. After Lester’s discharge from CPS in 1946, they moved to a barn in South Lee and built a rammed-earth house, moving into it in 1951.
For about 25 years, Margaret was employed as a medical secretary in Florida by Dr. Elwyn Evans, a cardiologist; in Pittsfield by Dr. S. Spence Levin; by Dr. Byrne DeWeese, an anesthesiologist; and by Dr. Christopher Mamonas, urologist. For 14 years she was parish secretary at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Stockbridge. Then, for several years, she was secretary to Ursula M. Niebuhr, assisting with correspondence, manuscript typing and medical insurance, and finally retiring in 1995.
The Clarkes became members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in the early 1950s and were members of the Middle Connecticut Valley Monthly Meeting, now Mount Toby Monthly Meeting, in Leverett. As that meeting was at a distance, the Clarkes held Meeting for Worship in their home from 1968–1983, moving to Simon’s Rock College for the next 14 years. Now known as South Berkshire Monthly Meeting, the meeting its own meeting house in Great Barrington. Margaret has held office as treasurer, recording clerk, clerk of the meeting, clerk of ministry and counsel, and representative of the meeting for New England Yearly Meeting Ministry and Counsel. The Clarkes renewed their marriage vows Aug. 8, 1992, at the New England Yearly Meeting sessions on their 50th anniversary.
Margaret was a quiet, intelligent individual who was always interested in world affairs. She regularly donated to countless charities, knitted leper bandages for decades and had a love for all living things, especially her cats. She will be sorely missed.The family is especially thankful to the staff at Kindred at Laurel Lake for their care for Margaret during her last years.
Lester predeceased Margaret in an automobile accident Aug. 19, 1999. She was also predeceased by her sisters Dorothy Davis Carter and Elizabeth Davis Burns, and niece Suzanne Carol Burns. She is survived by her niece Karen J. Burns of Syracuse, New York. She also leaves her many friends at South Berkshire Meeting and her loving friends Laurel and Mario Caluori, Bonner McAllester and Joe Baker.
A memorial meeting will be held Sunday, Nov. 26, from noon to 1 p.m. at the South Berkshire Meeting House at 280 State Rd., Great Barrington. To leave a message of condolence or share, visit www.kellyfuneralhome.net
