A celebration of life will be planned for a later date to commemorate the life of Emily Clark, who died Aug. 3 at her home in Scotts Valley. She was 97.
Born in State College, Pa., Mrs. Clark graduated from Pennsylvania State College at age 20 and moved to New York City to attend Columbia University, where she met Don Clark. Mr. Clark later became the founding librarian of University of California, Santa Cruz. They were married in 1938, and their marriage lasted 55 years, until his death in 1993.
The Clarks moved in 1962 from New England to the hills above Scotts Valley, where Mrs. Clark became an avid gardener and found much to enjoy in her new home in California. She planted an extensive garden and was an early supporter of the Arboretum at UCSC, where she worked as a volunteer into her nineties.
Mrs. Clark helped establish Norrie’s Gift Shop and propagated plants for the Arboretum’s world-famous gardens. She was a founding member of the UCSC Women’s Club, serving as its president for a time in the early days, and was active in the organization’s Garden Club for many years.
An accomplished craftsman, Mrs. Clark made clothes for her family, including her husband’s signature bow ties. She also loved to knit. When she and her husband built their home in Scotts Valley, Mrs. Clark painted the interior and laid the stone tile floors. She practiced woodcarving and painted with watercolors.
Mrs. Clark is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and May Clark of Scotts Valley; a son-in-law, Al Patrick; and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by daughter Pamela Clark Patrick, who died in 2010.
Memorial contributions can be made to the UCSC Arboretum, http://arboretum.ucsc.edu; to the Donald and Emily Clark Map Endowment at UCSC, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95064; or to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066.
