Joyce E. Clark, 87

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Joyce E. Clark, 87, of 581 State Road passed away at her home on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, after a brief illness.

Born in North Adams on June 7, 1932, she was the daughter of Kenneth G. Clark and Isabel Clark Whittier. She attended North Adams schools and graduated with honors from Drury High School in 1950. Joyce attended North Adams State College, now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and graduated from Northern University of Colorado in Greeley in 1954.

She began her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher at Greylock School in North Adams that year. She also taught the lower level grades in Vancouver, Wash., from 1956 through 1959, when she moved to Holyoke, where she taught nursery school and various long-term teaching assignments until accepting a kindergarten position in the Williamstown Public Schools. She taught in Williamstown for 25 years and enjoyed every minute of it. Her students were her family and many of those who were lucky enough to be in her classroom over the years still speak fondly of that experience as do their parents.

Throughout her teaching career, Joyce took advantage of learning opportunities and enrolled in education courses at various colleges. Due to ill health, she took early retirement from teaching in 1992, but later taught long-term remedial reading in both Bennington and Pownal, Vt., and did substitute work in North Adams for the next nine years.

Joyce enjoyed sports. She was a cheerleader in high school and an avid skier in her younger years and kept a close eye on the Boston Red Sox. In addition, she maintained an interest in photography, videotaping and traveling.

Joyce was a member of First Congregational Church, UCC, North Adams for more than 50 years and served on many committees during that time as well as videotaping many Sunday worship services.

Joyce leaves two sisters, Julie Clark Filkins of North Adams and Ann Clark-Killam of Williamstown, and her brother-in-law, Robert Green Sr. of North Adams. She also leaves many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

She was predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law, Allan and Nancy Clark; a sister, Marcia Clark Green; her stepmother, Marion P. Clark; her longtime friend, Bill Lindskog; and her dog, Jenny.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Calling hours for Ms. Clark will be Friday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., followed by services at First Congregational Church at 1 p.m.

Burial will take place in the family lot in Southview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Congregational Church, North Adams or to the Berkshire Humane Society through the funeral home. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.