MARY CLARKE
1926-2021
Mary I Sullivan Clarke, born November 29, 1926, passed away Monday, August 23rd at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital in Houston, TX.
Mrs. Clarke was born in Wynne, AR, and lived in Forrest City, AR, for many years where she and her first husband, Oliver L. (Buddy) Rowland, Jr. (now deceased) raised a son and a daughter. After their retirement, Mrs. Clarke and second husband William A. Clarke, Jr. (also deceased) moved to Katy,
TX. Following Mr. Clarke’s, death Mrs. Clarke moved to Houston, TX, where she was a long-time resident of Brookdale Memorial City Seniors independent living apartment complex, and eventually moved into the home of her daughter, Billie Jean McCallum and her husband, Dale McCallum where she has lived for the past two years with her beloved cat Sapphire (Kitty).
Mrs. Clarke was preceded in death by her parents, Mabel Nicholas Sullivan and Bertie Neal Sullivan of Wynne, AR, a sister Ruby Estelle Puckett and husband Frank of Houston, and brother Richard Neal Sullivan and wife Betty Ann of Springdale, AR. She leaves a son and daughter by her first marriage, Louis Neal Rowland of Katy, TX, and Billie Jean McCallum and husband Dale of Houston,
TX, grandsons Gregory Louis Rowland and wife Christy of Issaquah, WA, and Alan Dale McCallum II, of Houston,
TX, great-grandchildren, Jarod Rowland, Justin Rowland, Jacob Rowland and Jenna Rowland of Issaquah, WA, and nephews Richard Sullivan of Springdale, AR, Roger Sullivan of Joplin,
MO, and Charlotte Sullivan Shelton and husband Chris of Vanderbilt, MI.
Mrs. Clarke was retired from the Arkansas State Employment Division where she worked as UI benefit technician for EDS Central Office in Little Rock and eventually retired from the CETA section of the Forrest City office in 1977. She was an accomplished artist, and after moving to Katy joined the Westside Art Guild and was a co-founder of the Katy Rice Harvest Festival where local artists showed their work each year. She was also a member of Lifeline Widows and Widowers support group, the Historian and a Past President of the Houston Military Officers Wives Association, and an active bridge player while she lived at Brookdale apartments.
She enjoyed being an active part of her childrens’ and grandchildrens’ lives here in the Houston area, and was proud of her four greatgrandchildren as well. Her favorite saying was “Life is Good”. Those who knew her considered her a treasure and someone who will be fondly remembered and missed.
Services for Mrs. Clarke will be held on Tuesday, August 31st at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home & Cemetery, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079. A visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. with services set for 3:00 p.m. followed immediately at 4:00 p.m. by a graveside ceremony.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialoaksfunerals.com for the Clarke family.