Elayne Clarke

Elayne Clarke, forever young by pronouncement, stylish and gracious to the very end, died peacefully with her two daughters beside her on July 21.

She was born in Ortonville, Minnesota, on Valentine's Day in a year that will remain undisclosed. She grew up in a boarding school with her sister, Evelyn, and made her mark by reading the entire library, putting on parties, playing piano for the school programs, and sneaking in to play jazz on the church pipe organ. During World War II she made her way to Hollywood, got into a posh salon and did hair for the stars, including Marilyn Monroe.

Elayne married Buzz Clarke, who called her "Tangerine," in January 1945.

With the end of the war, they settled into life in Southern California and had two daughters, Susan and Melissa. Elayne relished the family life she had missed as a child, and was a wonderful, fierce, and loving mother.

The family spent six good years in Portland, Oregon, centered around All Saints Church, where Elayne's skills as a fundraiser began to emerge. Photos of her and her fellow Mothers Club members doing the Can-Can for Catholics are treasured family mementos.

Back in California, her career path included developing central records libraries for major corporations, a practice that revolutionized records management and led to her involvement in the American Records Management Association.

She and Buzz moved to Sisters in 1996 and made wonderful friendships here. They were close-up grandparents to Melissa's offspring, Luke, Suzanna and Bess. Elayne joined the Friends of the Sisters Library and was a key factor in the success of their famous cookbook, touting it, selling it, buying many copies herself for gifts.

She took particular pleasure in raising money for a cause she believed in alongside people she liked so much. She was a member of Habitat for Humanity and the lively The Lunch Bunch.

Elayne was widowed in 2002. She carried on to all the graduations, weddings, holidays - always the honored center of attention, always best dressed.

A crowning moment was the April 2009 birth to Luke and Emily of her great-granddaughter, Isabel Aili Ward.

This was a life well-lived, with many struggles and great satisfactions, and a touch of "Auntie Mame" as well. Her family would like to thank everyone who has sent cards and e-mails, flowers, plants, and given great hugs - we miss her and appreciate your expressions of love.

Information provided by the family of Elayne Clarke