Jean Carver Clark

Jean had wonderful childhood memories from her life in Bellingham, where she was born to William Coston Carver and Gertrude Crites Carver, on Jan. 13, 1920. She grew up in a newspaper family: her father was editor of the Bellingham Herald for more than 40 years; her brother, Jack Carver, was a longtime Herald photographer; and her mother was a society editor for a time in the early 1900s. She spent many happy summers on Lake Samish at Carcot," the family cottage.

A bright student, she skipped a grade in elementary school, and was graduated from Bellingham High School in 1937. She was a class speaker at graduation. She attended Western Washington College of Education (now Western Washington University) and the University of Washington, where she was affiliated with Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. In 1942, she gave birth to daughter Nancy during her five-year marriage to Irving Thiel. In 1948, she married Jack Clark, after meeting him on a blind date, and they were happily married for 53 years until his death on Christmas Day, 2001.

During Jack's career as a J.C. Penney manager, they lived in Bellingham, Sunnyside and Cle Elum, before settling in Enumclaw where they raised their family, which now included two more daughters. Jean enjoyed her role as a homemaker. She was also an excellent bridge player, an avid reader, a wonderful neighbor, and a thoughtful letter-writer. A spiritual seeker all her life (the topic of her graduation speech was The Value of Religion), she was a member of St. Catherine's Episcopal Church in Enumclaw, Unity Church of Kent, and the White Eagle Lodge in Montgomery, Texas. Last year, she was honored as a 50-year member of P.E.O., Chapters EF and JB.

Jean loved people and enjoyed many close friendships during all stages of her life - 150 people attended her 90th birthday party. She was a strong advocate of health foods, vitamin supplements and naturopathic health care well before they became mainstream. Her spiritual beliefs, independent thinking and bright personality inspired and cheered many. She is survived by her three children: Nancy Sellers of Auburn; Sallie Chaney (John) of Seattle; and Susan Elgarf (Tarek) of Enumclaw; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild, and other special relatives. Inurnment will be at Tahoma National Cemetery next to her husband Jack. Donations in her memory can be sent to the Church of the White Eagle Lodge, 2615 St. Beulah Chapel Road, Montgomery, TX 77316.