A gentle soul who spread kindness wherever she went
LYNNFIELD — Leota (Lee) Williamson Clarke of Lynnfield and Coshocton County, OH was born on July 5, 1927, the daughter of Clyde E. and Chloe Mullett Williamson, on their family farm in Blissfield, OH.
She is survived by her sons, George Miller Clarke IV and his wife Deb and Stephen Williamson Clarke and his wife Elizabeth. She was also the devoted grandmother “Kiki” to Will, Emily, Annie, Miller and Ben and cherished aunt to her nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, G. Miller Clarke and her sister, Delores “Dee” Miller.
At a young age, Lee moved to Roscoe Village where she participated in 4-H and graduated from Roscoe High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and her master’s from The Ohio State University and taught high school in Columbus. There she met Miller, fell in love and began a marriage on August 25, 1956 that lasted 41 years until death did them part. Lee left teaching to raise her two sons. The family first moved to Cherry Hill, NJ and later to Lynnfield, their home for over 40 years. Despite the long distance, Lee and her sister remained incredibly close and spoke weekly on the phone for the majority of their adult lives.
In 1975, Lee and Miller founded Express Press in Burlington, a family business providing commercial printing and graphic design services. The two worked together tirelessly and were rarely apart. Spare moments from work were devoted to supporting their boys in school, Scouts, band and sports as well as to their church life at Center Congregational Church in Lynnfield. After selling the family business in 1988, Lee began working as a referral coordinator for longtime friend and neighbor, Dr. Margaret Simons.
In 1998, she lost her beloved Miller who died following a tragic fall. She continued to work and live independently for 15 years, frequently looking after grandchildren and enthusiastically attending their various school and sporting events. She loved to watch their ice hockey games despite her dislike of the cold. She moved to Brooksby Village in Peabody and then to the Residences at Wingate Needham in 2014 where she resided until she passed. The family is extremely grateful for the kindness and wonderful care of the caregivers at Wingate, particularly in the Memory Care Neighborhood in her final years.
Lee spread kindness wherever she went and was a gentle soul. She was often described as the kindest person anyone had met. She was always cheerful despite many hardships and made everyone feel better in her company. A beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend, her presence on this earth will be sorely missed.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours to remember Lee on Monday, April 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. at McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield. Funeral services will be held on April 2 at 3:30 p.m. at Centre Congregational Church, 5 Summer St., Lynnfield. Interment will be private at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association of MA/NH or Centre Congregational Church in Lynnfield.
For online guestbook, visit mcdonaldfs.com.
