Joan Clarke

Joan Cummins Clarke, loving wife of Charles and devoted mother of John and Jenny Clarke died on Friday, November 16, 2007 after a long illness. Joan was born in Silver Grove, Kentucky on February 25, 1927 to George and Margaret Sayers Cummins. She was a graduate of Augusta High School Augusta, KY and attended the University of Kentucky where she met her husband Charles Allen Clarke. Joan and Charles were married on November 17, 1951 and moved to Nashville in 1961 where they raised their two children. Joan was involved in St. Henry's Catholic Church and volunteered several years of part time service to the Catholic Ladies of Charity. Her children, John and Jenny, graduated from Father Ryan High School in 1972 and 1988 respectively. Joan is survived by her husband Charles Clarke of Nashville; her son John Sayers Clarke of Eugene, OR; Jenny Ann Clarke of Nashville, TN; and her four grandchildren, Joan Elizabeth Clarke NY, NY, John Reiley Clarke Eugene, OR; Kelsey Sayers Clarke Eugene, OR; and Madeleine Sayers Pyle Nashville, TN; brother-in-law William Reese Clarke and his wife Jean Clarke Mayslick, KY; many beloved nieces and nephews Missy, Megan, Mary, Molly, Thor, Bill and Don and her dear, life long friend Mary Jo Hause of Lexington Kentucky whom she thought of as a sister. Joan is preceded in death by her parents, her brother George Thane Cummins and his wife Ruth Ann Cummins of Augusta, KY. The family would like to pay special thanks to Bernedette Tinney for the uplifting, loving, tender care she provided mother in her final months of life and also to Annette Lipsett and Maria McGowan for their assistance with her care. We would also like to thank Alive Hospice, in particular Rosie Flite, RN, Amy Coldren, Dr. Cassidy and Chaplin Dahl Johnson. And finally say thank you to the Cook, Lewis , Brown families for their support over the years. A service to honor Joan's life will be held on Monday December 3, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at West Harpeth Funeral home 6962 Charlotte Pike. Friends and family are invited to join together to remember and celebrate Joan's life on Sunday December 2, 2007 the home of Jenny Clarke located at 6064 Temple Road beginning at 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to Alive Hospice and/or the Ladies of Charity. Arrangements by West Harpeth Funeral Home 615 352-9400