Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Clark, Martha Belle 1932 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net July 30, 2010, 3:23 pm The Lake Odessa Wave, Thursday, June 23, 1932 The suddenness of the passing away of Mr. and Mrs. George Clark, who lived at Odessa Center, has cast a gloom over a neighborhood as well as a family of ten children. The father passed away the last of March and this, to be so soon followed by the death of the mother, is a calamity that is a double sorrow. The Clark family have been identified with this community all their lives. The children, many of them have been identified with the life of the village in various ways, several by being in school here and some in business and church relations. They have the sympathy of many friends. Martha Belle Downer Clark, daughter of Ephraim and Eleanor Downer, was born in Odessa township, Ionia County, Michigan, November 15, 1862, and passed away of apoplexy at the farm home where she has lived many years, at the age of 70 years, six months and one day. She was united in marriage to George W. Clark of Odessa township in October 1879. To this union were born ten children, Mrs. Florence Vandecar of Odessa; Mrs. Zoa Sinclair of Vermontville; Mrs. Hattie Shire, Odessa; Lee Clark, Ionia; Miss Leslie Clark, Sault Ste. Marie; Mrs. Lynette Kimmel, of near Woodbury; Clayton Clark, Campbell township, Mrs. Nettie Haskell, Lansing; Roy, Odessa; and Gilbert at home. There are nineteen grandchildren and six great- grandchildren; also a niece Miss Lynette Freemire of Sunfield township; a nephew, Roy Freemire of Sunfield, and a brother-in-law, Willard Freemire of Sunfield township her only sister, Mrs. Willard Freemire, having preceded her 25 years ago. Her funeral which was largely attended by relatives and friends was held at the farm home just eleven weeks and two days following that of her husband. The Rev. George J. Start delivered the funeral sermon. Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Goodemoot sang. Her six grandsons, Carlon, Clayton, Vaughn and Roy Vandecar, Lee Sinclair and Trevor Clark were pall bearers. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful. She was laid to rest with her husband in Lakeside cemetery. Those from away in attendance at the funeral were Mr. And Mrs. Roy Freemire of Sunfield; Seth Clark and Andrew Clark of Bay City; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Banhagle of Ionia, and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Koch of Clare. At an early age Mrs. Clark was bereft of a father’s care and guidance as he enlisted in the army at the beginning of the Civil war and soon died of malarial fever and is buried in Arlington cemetery, Ky. She visited her father’s grave a few years ago, gratifying a many times expressed wish to do so. She was essentially a home lover, spending her happiest hours assisting and enjoying the acquaintanceship of her children, who dearly loved her. Card of Thanks: We wish to express our sincere thanks to our friends and neighbors, also Rev. Start, and the singers for their kind service during the illness and death of our loving mother. The family of Mrs. George W. Clark File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/c/clark7337nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 3.5 Kb