BUCKFIELD — Lora Turner Clark, 89, formerly of Auburn and Minot, peacefully passed away Dec. 16, at the home of her daughter in North Buckfield.

Lora was born June 25, 1923, in Buckfield, to Alton and Ella (Bessey) Turner; she graduated from Lewiston High School in 1941, and shortly afterwards attended a nursing program at the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary in Portland. While in school, she met her soon to be husband, David Clark. They were engaged in February 1943, and married July 20, shortly before his deployment to Europe as a paratrooper.

Lora was employed at Bates Mill during World War II as a spread bundler making parachutes for the war effort. For a number of years, she worked in retail at JCPenney in Lewiston, and later attended classes at Ethel Richard’s in Auburn. There she acquired skills that led to employment as an executive secretary at Bates Manufacturing. Later she worked as a bookkeeper at Shawnee Steps in Auburn from which she retired.

After retirement, Lora and Dave traveled extensively. She was very active in United Commercial Travelers, and for many years loved meeting with friends at Thursday Girls, and Club 15. For more than 20 years, Lora was a volunteer at Central Maine Medical Center.

Lora was an accomplished seamstress, and loved to craft. For years, she gifted her grandchildren with homemade Christmas ornaments, and nightgowns. She enjoyed dancing, and listening to music from the big bands like Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. As a young woman, she played piano, and loved to draw. Later in life, she enjoyed watching the Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy. Her family loved her cooking, especially her appetizers and desserts.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She attended all of the children’s special functions and kept her family close together with many family traditions. She was a gentle spirit with a giant capacity for loving all of those around her. Her generosity was admirable, and she never had enough kind things to say about everyone.

She is survived by her children, Deborah, and her husband, Richard and her son, Russell, all of Buckfield; seven grandchildren, Eric Dubuc, Kelly Clark, Rebecca Fragos, Dave Clark, Emily Kenney, Edith Blyberg and Jennifer Swift; 14 great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Samuel, Emma, Morgan, Adam, Ally, Nicholas, Max, Abigail, Grace, Allison, Madeline, Trevor and Brady; her sister, Beverly Giguere and her husband, Robert, of Lewiston; and sister-in-law, Pauline Turner of China.

Lora was predeceased by Dave, her husband of 59 years; her daughter, Carolyn; and her brother, Alton.

Family and friends are invited to share their online condolences at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.