Mary Leith (Jamieson) Clark

Mary Leith Clark (nee Jamieson),  September 22, 1920 - March 11, 2022

With sadness the family announces that Mary Clark died peacefully on March 11, 2022 at her residence, Oxford Gardens in Woodstock, Ontario.  She was 101 years old.

Mary was the beloved wife of the late Rev. R. Clair Clark.  She was the middle of three children of the late Margaret Elizabeth (Bessie) Leith and the late Duncan Daniel Jamieson.  Her siblings predecease her: Eleanor MacGregor (the late John) and Jim Jamieson (Mary).

Mary was born in 1920 on the family homestead near Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan.  In 1924, the family moved to Orillia, Ontario near where Duncan and Bessie had grown up.  After high school in Orillia, Mary went to teachers college at the Toronto Normal School and then taught for three years in two different one-room schoolhouses in rural Simcoe County.  She then moved back to Toronto to attend Toronto Bible College.  In early 1945, she was selected to be the first Baptist woman chaplain in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, a role she fulfilled until 1946.  After the war, she graduated from the University of Toronto.

Mary and Clair were married in 1947.  Following Clair’s ordination in 1951, they moved to Dryden, Ontario where they spent several productive years.  In 1957, they moved to Woodstock, Ontario where Clair became the minister at First Baptist Church.  After Clair’s career shifted to chaplaincy, they remained in Woodstock.  Mary continued to be actively involved in the life of First Baptist and her church community was a source of support and friendship for many decades.

Her life was greatly enriched by teaching English as a Second Language to high school students at Woodstock Collegiate Institute, Huron Park Secondary School and College Avenue Secondary School, staying in contact with many over the years.

Music was an important part of Mary’s life.  As a child she sang and played the piano in many recitals.  Then in her early 20’s, she was a guest soloist at many Toronto churches and throughout her life, she sang in church choirs.  For many years, she was a dedicated member of the Women’s Music Club in Woodstock.

Mary and Clair had a cottage on Eagle Lake near Dryden.  For Mary especially, this was the perfect place to spend long summers.  She cherished her long-lasting friendships in northwestern Ontario.

Mary is survived by her three children:  Ruth Hall (Chris) of Duncan, BC; Jane Clark of Halifax, NS; and Jim Clark (Bill Leonard) of Ottawa. She was the grandmother of four: Ben Hall (Kirstin) of Salmon Arm, BC; Meghan Sumner (Brad) of Langley, BC; Lauren Clark-Gallant (John Wray) of Kentville, NS; and Alexander Clark-Gallant (Megan McCarthy) of Stillwater Lake, NS.  She also leaves eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to honour Mary's life will be held at First Baptist Church, 603 Adelaide St., Woodstock on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 11:00 am with Rev. Andrew Bellous officiating and Rev. Ron Watson assisting. Interment later in the St. Andrews and St. James Cemetery, Orillia. Online condolences at www.brockandvisser.com