Obituary of Priscilla Anne Clark

Priscilla Anne Clark (age 90), of Sebago, Maine, peacefully passed away on July 30, 2023 on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. She was surrounded by her family, who knew her by her namesake Grandy.  She was predeceased by her husband, Edward Warren Clark, Jr. on September 1, 2006. They were reunited in Heaven on their 65th wedding anniversary. Priscilla always had a penchant for doing things her own way, and on her own time frame.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Erik Wellington Clark (Beth) of Westbrook, Maine and their five children; Samantha Wyse (Tanner), Drew Clark and son Austin, Ashley Smiley (Jake) and their two daughters, Addyson and Stella; Katie Berry and her son Hudson, and Emma Berry and her son Finley.  She is also survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Melissa Chaisson Clark Risk (Bob) of Westfield, Indiana and Hilton Head Island, and their two children Molly and Charlie.  

Priscilla was born in Westbrook, Maine on January 29, 1933 to Lila Mae Boutte. Although having moved quite a bit as a child, her family settled in Rumford and she graduated from Stephens High School in 1951. From there she moved to Boston, where she worked and attended night school at Harvard University and also completed a local secretarial school. She later moved to California where she and Ed lived for many years and eloped in Vegas, until they moved to New York and started their family. After a brief stint there, and a five year move to Massachusetts, they finally made it back home to Maine where they lived and raised their family in Gorham. 

Priscilla was always busy with various activities pertaining to her kids, hobbies of golf, skiing, or relaxing at the camp on Sebago Lake. Additionally, she was very involved in her local community. She opened the Cookie Shack at Robie Field and sold concessions for the Booster Club. Priscilla also started the tradition of Christmas luminaries in their neighborhood that still exists today. She had a successful career as an Executive Secretary at UNUM until her retirement in 1994.  She and Ed then moved permanently to Sebago Lake and built their dream house. Ed was met with an untimely death due to mesothelioma in 2006, and thus began the start of “Grandy Season” for Priscilla in Indiana.  She spent the cold months with her daughter in Westfield, Indiana where she dove intently into her role as a grandmother and became Grandy to all she met.  She was a fixture at any place her grandkids could be found; the schools, skating rinks, basketball games, etc.  Driving her distinct purple P.T. Cruiser, she became a bit of a local celebrity, known and loved by all.  

Every spring Grandy migrated back to her beloved home on the lake in Sebago. She would resume her golf and bridge dates, and welcome any visitor into her home. She relished her time with her grandkids who moved in for the summer.  Days were filled with boat rides, swimming, and generally hanging out at the beach. Boredom was not an option according to her and she would advise anyone to go “Jump in the Lake”. Her house was filled with love and laughter, and frequent shouts of “Did you wash your feet before you came in?”.  Always blunt and to the point, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Crossword puzzles were a great source of joy for her and she completed one daily. As she became visually impaired from macular degeneration, it became incumbent upon others to read to her the questions to complete the puzzle.  She could keep a mental track of the puzzle and would often ask you to go back a few questions to clarify a clue. Books also were an extremely important facet of her life, and she was never without one, often two, books. Eventually, Audible became her new best friend, and the books were frequently heard by anyone within a 50 foot radius. She was always a voracious reader.

Travel was something that Priscilla absolutely loved to do and visited many places with her husband, friends, and family.  She was very proud of her “Travel Wall” and could often be heard telling stories of her trips, people she met along the way, or crazy adventures with the kids. Travels often involved rambunctious laughter, excellent food and cocktail filled dinner times. And boy, did she love her margaritas. She was infamous for drinking her 5 o’clock margarita, no matter where she was, and loved to share this passion with anyone willing to partake.  

As she aged, her passion for cards was still strong and often played Oh Hell, Whist, or Cribbage with the family.  Poor eyesight limited this to her latest game phase of Kings on the Corner.  There are pages upon pages of scorecards with her name on it reflecting upon many wins and losses over the years playing cards; she was a competitor until the end. 

Priscilla will be missed dearly by friends and family who loved her. Her time will not be forgotten, and we are lucky to have 90 years of stories, memories, and Grandy quotes to last another 90 years. May she rest in peace, with a margarita in hand, and a dance saved for Ed. 

Services will be held Saturday, September 2 at Dolby-Blais-Segee Funeral Home on 35 Church St., Westbrook, Maine.  Visitation will be at 10AM and a brief service will follow at 11AM.  There will be a reception immediately following at The Stockhouse Restaurant on 506 Main Street from 12-2.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Spaulding Memorial Library at http://www.spaulding.lib.me.us/WP/.