Trudy Clark, 92, passed away in Palm Harbor, Fla., Jan. 29, 2017.
She is survived by three children, Jeffrey Clark and daughter-in-law, Marie of Conyers Ga., Carol Clark of Duluth Ga., and Mary Clark Ostrowski and son-in-law, Mark of Oldsmar, Fla.; and grandchildren, Katie Ostrowski of New York City, Gregory and Matthew Clark of Conyers, Ga., and Steven Ostrowski and family of the Denver area.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Wesley; husband, Burton; and grandson, Timothy.
Born in Hermosa Beach, Calif., in 1925, she was the daughter of Wilbert and Agnes James Brewer of Rochester, Wash. Trudy spent her childhood on the prairie with many cousins from the James and Brewer families, where their ancestors had been among the first settlers of Oregon territory in the 1800s.
She started working at an early age on her parents’ farm caring for animals, picking strawberries and riding her horse to round up the dairy herd. During World War II, she continued helping her father on the farm and also worked in a manufacturing plant in Chehalis with her mother, where they both assembled airplane wings for Boeing.
After graduating from Rochester High School, she attended college, then began working in Seattle. There, she met Francis “Burton” Clark, an Army Air Corps fighter pilot from Kentucky. They were married for 47 years.
A longtime Episcopalian, Trudy often sang in choirs and learned to do ecclesiastical embroidery in Washington. While living in the Chicago suburbs, she made church vestments and altar linens, working from home so she could be with her children.
After moving to Florida in 1967, Trudy became an income tax specialist and started her own business in Clearwater. She continued to do taxes and accounting for more than 40 years until age 90.
Whatever she attempted, personally or professionally, Trudy set a high standard for herself, always doing her best and inspiring others to do the same.
She was kind, generous, dedicated, intelligent, talented and funny. She loved popcorn, baseball, family and friends. Her children and grandchildren will remember her with love and admiration. We are very proud of the fine person she was and grateful for the love and support she gave to us for so many years.
A plaque on her wall said “The purpose of life is to serve God,” and she did that to the best of her ability.
A memorial service will be held March 19, 2017, in Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lowe Syndrome Association, PO Box 417, Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 http://lowesyndrome.org/donate/
