Harriet A. Clarke, MD

Age 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 31. Dr. Clarke, formerly of Bloomfield Hills, lived at Westminster Village in Scottsdale, AZ.

She is survived by her cousins, Susan and William Iverson of Grosse Ile, MI. Dr. Clarke will be deeply missed by her godchildren: Karen Sipple Fink of Dearborn, MI; Robert Sipple of St. John, MI; Kyle Sipple of Clayton, GA; Kristin Sipple of St. Clair Shores, MI; Cindy Gale Armour of Peoria, AZ; Laurie Gale Voelker of Clayton, GA; Thomas Gale of Peoria, AZ.

Dr. Clarke was the daughter of George and Dr. Emilie Ann Arnold Clarke (one of the first women to graduate from the University of Michigan School of Medicine). She grew up in Detroit with her two brothers, both of whom predeceased her.

Dr. Clarke earned a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences at Wayne State University in 1946. She completed her medical degree in Anesthesiology at Wayne's School of Medicine also, graduating in 1949 – one of only four women in her class. Her internship and residency were completed at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Dr. Clarke worked as a board-certified anesthesiologist at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Pontiac, MI, for many years, retiring at age 59.

She was an active member of several Presbyterian churches in Michigan and Arizona and was a member of her church choirs.

An avid traveler, Dr. Clarke loved to recount the adventures of her many trips to more than 100 countries throughout the world. Some of those trips were medical missions, including trips to Haiti with the Albert Schweitzer Hospital medical missionary program.

An equally avid and astute collector, she donated many items to museums, including a The Clarke Family Quilt Collection – an assemblage of 45 family quilts and quilt tops – given in 1986 to the Michigan State University Museum as part of its Michigan Quilt Project.

Dr. Clarke was an exceptional and dedicated needlewoman herself, creating many beautiful works of Japanese embroidery and needlepoint over many decades.

She was also a cat lover and will be missed by her two kitties, Coco and Scamper.

Visitation for Dr. Clarke will be from 9:00-10:00am, Thursday, June 9, at the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home, 22546 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, 48124. A funeral service will be conducted at 10:00 am at the funeral home by Reverend Chris Thomas of First Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at Grand Lawn Cemetery (Grand River Avenue at Telegraph, Detroit).

A memorial service in Phoenix will follow at a later date.

Contributions in Dr. Clarke's memory may be made to The Westminster Village Foundation, 12000 North 90th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85260.