Ellen ‘Marie’ (Parker) Clark

Lifelong Alaska resident Ellen “Marie” (Parker) Clark passed away peacefully at her home in Wasilla, Alaska, surrounded by family at 1 p.m. Nov. 4, 2015, of natural causes.

Marie was born in Rampart, Alaska, in 1938 and raised in Chicken, Alaska, by Anne Purdy, who wrote the book “Tisha”. Marie attended the San Marcos boarding school in San Marcos, Texas, and has fond memories of her time there. Marie enjoyed baking, canning, smoking fish and making jelly for everyone to enjoy. Above all, Marie loved her family and all the many friends she met through the years. She lived in Southeast Alaska, Fairbanks, Anchorage and Wasilla. She volunteered for the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce and was on the Wasilla Salvation Army Board. Most recently, Marie enjoyed going on cruises with her husband and “cruise friends”.

Marie is survived by husband Ken Clark, her stepson, Jeff Clark, and her children, Terri Williams, Ross Halstead, Mike Sofoulis, Bryan Johnson and Anita Johnson; grandchildren, Nicole Corona, Roxanna Halstead, Roselinda Halstead, Michelle Johnson and Brooke Johnson; and many great-grandchildren; her sister Lynn Purdy. She is also survived by many brothers- and sisters-in-law, as well as cousins and family that meant a lot to her, but there are just too many to list. But know she loved you all and touched many in her lifetime.

Marie was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Carlo Parker; brothers, Greg Parker, Henry Parker, Herbert Warner, Willie Parker; and sisters, Marcia Gentzler, Martha Keefe and Hilda Parker.

Per Marie’s wish, no services will be held and her cremated remains will be buried with the rest of her family in the Rampart graveyard overlooking the Yukon River.

Arrangements were under the direction of Valley Funeral Home, Wasilla Chapel.