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Margaret (Clarke) Richards

Posted 2009-07-01 by Kingman Daily Miner
Margaret Clarke Richards, formerly of Kingman, passed away on June 15, 2009, at Friendship Village in Mesa, where she had been a resident since October 2004.

Margaret was born July 20, 1923, the first of two children, to Isaac Bradford Clarke and Elsie Melville Clarke in Wheaton, Ill. Her brother, William Bradford Clarke, was born six years later.

The family made their home in the beautiful village of Glen Ellyn, DuPage County, Ill. Margaret was a direct descendant of Deacon Winslow Churchill who, with his family, was the first to settle and own land in Glen Ellyn in 1834. She was also a direct descendant of Gov. William Bradford and William Brewster, both of whom led the Pilgrims in their exodus from England aboard the Mayflower.

She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

During her childhood, Margaret attended the schools of Glen Ellyn, graduating from Glenbard West High School in 1941. While at Glenbard, she was the first majorette for the school. She performed with the band, entered contests, winning many awards, and participated in many community events.

In 1950, Margaret followed her parents in a move to Tucson. It was there that she met and fell in love with Ernest John "Jack" Richards. They married on Oct. 18, 1952, and made their home in Phoenix.

While in Phoenix, their first son, James William Richards, was born. Jack was employed by Ford Motor Company, and it was the opening of the Arizona Proving Ground in Yucca that brought them to Kingman, where their daughter, Susan Clarke Richards Doern, and their second son, Robert David Richards were born.

Following Jack's retirement, he and Margaret moved to Ahwatukee, Ariz. Jack passed away Oct. 21, 2002; just three days after celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Margaret later moved to Friendship Village in Mesa.

Margaret was a loving wife and mother. She was a Boy Scout den mother and Girl Scout leader and was active in the Methodist Church and in the school PTA.

She was very creative and skilled in many crafts. One saying, a quote by John Wesley that she embroidered and framed, describes the creed by which she conducted her life: "Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can."

Survivors include a daughter, two sons, a brother, two sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, seven grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

An interment service was held on Tuesday, June 23, at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, where she was interred with her husband.

Kingman Daily Miner Wednesday, June 24, 2009.




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