Mary Elizabeth Clark

Wife, mother, grandma, sister, aunt, and friend Mary Elizabeth Clark was surrounded by her family as her courageous, two-decade long battle with cancer ended on Tuesday, November 4, 2014. She was 61 years old. Mary was born on June 25, 1953 in Grand Rapids, MI, the second child of Edmund and Joan Host. Shortly after her birth her family relocated to Cadillac MI where Mary was raised. Mary graduated from Cadillac High School in 1971 and went on to receive her Bachelors in Education from CMU in 1975. After her graduation, Mary began a career as a Special Education teacher. In August 1977 she married her High School sweetheart, Buzz. In 1979 they relocated from Cadillac to Lansing to further their educations. At MSU, Mary earned her MA in Education. After her daughter, Brandee, was born in 1980, Mary elected to stay at home and care for her family. She devoted the next years of her life to raising her children, caring for Buzz, and serving the community and the church. Mary’s hobbies were abundant; she enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting, home repair, cooking, baking, and helping with anything else anyone needed. She was a volunteer at the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools, a School Board member, a girls basketball coach, and a cub scout leader. She was an active member in Breast Cancer Reach for Recovery and as a Navigator for a number of years, inspiring and mentoring others living with cancer. Mary and her family are members of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, where she also served as a board member. In recent years, Mary’s focus had shifted to her grandchildren for whom she provided childcare right up until the last days of her journey. Mary and Buzz had a remarkable life together. They did face a number of difficult obstacles along the way including an auto accident that left Buzz paralyzed at age eighteen and a house fire in 2000. The biggest challenge, however, was Mary’s battle with cancer. Despite these challenges Mary always cared for her family and lived her life with incredible grace and integrity. Mary is survived by her husband of thirty-seven years: David (Buzz) Clark; two children: Brandee Ludka (spouse: Josh) and Adam Clark (spouse: Sarah); and grandchildren: Brenen, Aiden, Maren, Hadley and two grand-daughters expected in January 2015. She is also survived by her mother: Joan Host; sisters: Anne Johns, Patricia Hampel, and Jeannie Peacock; and brother: Joe Host. Mary will be remembered by those that loved her as strong-willed, determined, compassionate, understanding and above all loving. She will be remembered as the one who could when others could not; the one who did when others did not; the one who said yes when it would have been easier to say no; the one who found the best in others when they could not see it in themselves; the one who in the game of life created her own odds; the one who chose to persevere when she could have given in; the one who made miracles out of ordinary things. Mary was called home during the Catholic month of Holy Souls, a testament to the life she led. She is loved and will be deeply missed. Visitation for Mary will be held at Saint Joseph Church on Friday, November 7, 2014, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm with a Rosary to follow. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday November 8th at 11:00am also at Saint Joseph Church. Monseigneur Edwin A. Thome will preside. Attendees are encouraged to wear pink or other festive color to celebrate Mary’s life. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Father Fred Foundation or charity of one’s own choosing. Kindly share your thoughts and memories with Mary's family by visiting www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com Arrangements for the family have been entrusted to Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Mary Elizabeth Clark

June 25, 1953 - November 4, 2014