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Nancy “Laurie” Clark

Nancy Lawrence (Laurie) Clark Obituary

Nancy (Laurie) Clark, age 86, passed away peacefully in her residence at Arden Courts in Seminole, Florida on October 25 2016, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Laurie as she preferred to be called, was born on February 16, 1930 in Providence, Rhode Island to the late Arthur and Elizabeth Lawrence (Ostby). She was a resident of Amherst, Massachusetts for most of her life since 1963, and moved to Seminole, Florida in 2013.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Hugh S. Clark of Seminole, FL whom she married on June 25, 1968 in Amherst, MA; sister Gail Lerch of Seattle, WA; son Lawrence (Larry) Woodruff Smith of Redington Beach, FL; daughter Lucy Chapman Evoy and granddaughter Haley Elizabeth Chapman both of Seminole, FL; as well as a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Laurie graduated from Northfield School for Girls (now called Northfield Mount Hermon Preparatory School) in 1948 and attended Skidmore College School of Nursing, graduating in 1952 with a BS in Nursing (RN). She worked as a hospital nurse from 1952-1956 and during her college residency was a door to door visiting nurse in Harlem, NY.

Laurie moved to Amherst, MA in 1963 to raise her two children from her first husband Capt. H. Woodruff Smith, USN Retired (d), to whom she was married from 1953-1962. Laurie was resourceful in holding many jobs at one time to support herself and her two children such as working as a nurse at Kane’s Nursing Home in 1963 and at Amherst Medical on University drive in Amherst from 1965-1968. She was a landlord, and also writer/editor of the “What’s Cooking ” weekly column in the Amherst Record newspaper from 1964-1966.

After completing a Library Science Degree, Laurie worked in the Jones Library Circulation Dept. from 1965-1973, and from 1973-1981 she was a substitute teacher, librarian, and teacher’s aide in the Amherst, MA Junior High School science department, teaching students and instilling the love of wildlife and the appreciation for the environment.

Laurie was a prolific writer who authored several books: The first was “Bringing Grandy Home” based on her passion for hospice and caring for her mother Elizabeth Lawrence at home. Laurie was also an excellent artist, and was author/illustrator of the children’s book “Wesley The Adirondack Guide”. She also wrote about her father’s adventure of returning to America to attend preparatory school and college, and wrote about his contributions to the soaring society in “Gliders Soaring – The sport of Motorless Flight.”

Laurie held many leadership and volunteer positions in the following organizations: Amherst Historical Society, Amherst Woman’s Club, Amherst Garden Club, Hampshire County Hospice, The Amherst Bicentennial Commission, and the Square Deal Hospice Shop.

The family thanks the staff of Arden Courts of Seminole who cared for Laurie during her final three and a half years of life, and also the Hospice nurses who provided round-the-clock care throughout the last days, all of whom brought dignity, comfort and quality of life to her.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, November 12th at 5:00pm at First Christian Church of Seminole, 13272 Park Blvd. in Seminole, FL. Also, a family celebration to scatter her ashes will be held at her beloved summer camp in the Adirondacks next summer. Flowers are welcome as Laurie loved flowers and gardening and was a member of the Amherst Garden Club. Donations to Hampshire County Hospice, Suncoast Hospice or Matamek Corporation will also be accepted.

Family and friends are invited to share a memory and sign her guestbook below.

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