Marion Annie Arnott Clark
Marion Annie Arnott Clark
Marion Annie Arnott Clark was born at home on May 30, 1929 to Scottish parents Annie and Stephen Arnott. In 1954, she met young attorney Thaddeus Clark at a Christmas party. They married the following October. After a honeymoon in Bermuda, Marion and Thad returned to their first home together in Ellicottville, where Marion was active in civic institutions from the library to the Presbyterian Church. In 1972, the family moved to Jamestown, where she was active in Creche and a pillar of First Presbyterian Church, serving as deacon, elder, and head of the Flower Committee. In Jamestown, Marion found a wonderful community in the Jamestown Public School system, where for more than 30 years she served as an educator and a positive influence on generations of children.
Marion was passionate about education and took numerous courses at JCC and UB, maintaining a straight-A average, despite having four children and a husband who liked having dinner on the table every night. Her college dreams were fulfilled by her children, whose graduations from Barnard, Hamilton, and Dartmouth she celebrated with her whole heart.
Marion had a gift for turning events into celebrations; she planned the tastiest menus, set the most beautiful table, chose the most apt cartoons from The New Yorker. Her gift for making people feel special was apparent in the deep friendships that she maintained throughout her life, from the old gang in Buffalo, who all celebrated New Year’s Eve together for decades, to dear Ellicottville families, to a constantly growing collection of Jamestown friends and acquaintances, notably her dear friend Terry Radecki.
Marion was predeceased by her husband, parents, and sister, Elizabeth Ryerson Dunlop. She is survived by children, Elizabeth, John, Stephen and Marlea, and loving grandchildren–known collectively as her wee jewels– Alexandra, Caroline and Harry Snider; Thomas and Elisabeth Clark; John Clark; Alexandra Maddrell and Wiley Jones; and Allison and Lindsay Stamler.
Marion was a creative, intelligent woman with a long and well-lived life. We loved her and will miss her very much.
A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Jamestown on a date in January to be announced by the Lind Funeral Home.
The family suggests memorials be made to the James Prendergast Library, 509 Cherry St., or to First Presbyterian Church, 509 Prendergast Ave., both Jamestown, NY 14701. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.lindfunealhome.com.