1907-2003

AUBURN – Shirley Clara Robinson Clark, 96, of Gore Road in Otisfield and formerly of Wilton, St. Petersburg, Fla., and South Paris, died Oct. 10, at the Farah Frye Home in Auburn. Born in Cushing on April 20, 1907, she was the daughter of Albert Henderson Robinson and Nettie Clara Maxcy Hunt Robinson.

She attended schools of Thomaston, graduating from Thomaston High School class of 1925. After high school, she attended the former Bliss Business School, graduating from there in 1927. During World War II, she was employed building bombers in California. Along with her first husband, Arthur Johnson they owned and operated markets in Buckfield and Oxford. She was a home maker while raising her family, once her family was older, she returned to work as a columnist and reporter for the Wilton Times.

She was a member of the North Jay Grange and was a past lecturer and chaplin there, a 50-year member of the State Grange as well as a member of the National Grange, and was also a 50-year member of the Wilson Lake Rebekah Lodge, of Wilton, where she served as conductor and secretary. She was a 25-year member of the Wilton Day Extension and held many different offices during that time. She also attended the Wilton Methodist Church.

For the last 35 years, she wintered in St. Petersburg, Fla., where her friends and activities there brought her much joy.

She is survived one daughter, Karen J. Downing and her husband, Bruce, of Otisfield; two grandchildren, Amy Rae Downing, of Burlington, Vt., and Ryan Joseph Downing and his wife, Amy, of West Paris; and two great-grandchildren, Jacob Albert Downing and Abby Madison Downing, both of West Paris. She was predeceased by her second husband, Raymond Lewis Clark in 1967.

NOTICE:

There will be no visiting hours. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM Sunday, October 26, 2003 at the Village Cemetery, Thomaston, Maine. Arrangements are by the Dolby Funeral Chapel, Windham.