Mary Clark

CLARK, Mary Julia (Judy) Cannon 92, passed away peacefully in her sleep Friday, March 15, 2013, and went to heaven to join her previously deceased husband, children, family, and friends. Judy was the daughter of the late Alice Catherine and Michael P. Cannon of Washington D.C. She is preceded in death by her husband Eugene William, a lifelong Dayton resident ; her son, Dr. William Michael Clark; a first born son who died at birth; and her second born daughter, Alice Maureen who died in infancy, a brother, Robert Cannon of Washington, D.C., She is survived by daughter Catherine Ellen(Cay) Dietz, her sons Mark David (Jenn) and their children, Camryn and Hudson, and Scott Thomas (Kristin); another daughter, Nora Gene Clark Neilson (Ron) and daughters Leslie Neilson, Adrienne Neilson Ledford (Chris) and their daughter, Darian, and Kathryn Harrington Marriott (Bo) and their son Liam; and daughter-in-law, Eileen O'Connell Clark and her children, Patrick and Erin. Judy leaves behind siblings Ellen Breen of Wilmington Delaware, Alice Catherine Barrett (Jim) of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Michael Cannon of Spokane, Washington, and Sister-in-law, Rosemary Clark of Dayton. As native of the District of Columbia, she attended the Academy of Notre Dame de Amur on an academic scholarship and earned her Bachelor Degree in Sociology at Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross. She later earned her Master's degree at the University of Dayton. She was a strong believer in Catholic education and fostered academics in her children, cherished all graduations, and the party celebrations she threw for them. She was fond of family picnics at John Bryant State Park - rain, shine or even snow. She organized yearly family vacations to the Nation's Capitol to visit relatives, tour the monuments, and relive history. She enjoyed ceramics, sewing, and knitting for family - each of whom had personalized hand-knit Christmas stockings. A dedicated democrat, she spent most of her professional years serving those in need. After the war years in the USO with postings in Texas and New Orleans, she was recruited to Dayton by the Loretto, the women's resident center on First Street. As social director there, she was instrumental in managing the local CAYODA Club. After that, she became a caseworker for the Welfare Department, before becoming the first social worker with the County Visiting Nursing Association. Her final occupation before retiring in 1982 was with the Montgomery County Court of Domestic Relations. Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 20, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. until time of Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated in her honor at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 272 Bainbridge, Dayton. A private burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest next to her late husband, Gene. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation online at Mytonic.org/donate or 1259 El Camino Real, Ste. 150, Menlo Park, CA 94025.