Shirley Mae Clarke, 72, was born Shirley Mae Dosier, the daughter of William Dosier and Ada Ruth Dosier of Morris Township.
She was a loving daughter and sister who passed from this life into the arms of her Lord and Savior, on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015.
The oldest of three children, Ms. Clarke was born and raised in Plainfield, NJ. She was born with Cerebral Palsy, a very difficult disease in 1942 and still so today.
Ms. Clarke’s mother, Ruth, was born Ada Ruth Berry on Summit Hill in Morris Township. She worked for many years to give Ms. Clarke and her other children a good life.
In 1973, Ruth married Ed Clarke and then returned to her roots in Pennsylvania, where she enjoyed her large extended family and friends.
Ms. Clarke and her mother were inseparable and spent all their time together. In the 66 years they both lived, they were never apart for more than a month. They were members of Summit Hill United Methodist Church.
She enjoyed her country music, her many pet cats and she loved collecting Elvis paraphernalia. She also enjoyed her time with her mother.
She continued to reside with her mother, Ruth, on Summit Hill until 1993, when they became residents of Fayetteville, NC and lived with her brother, Thomas and his family.
Ruth preceded her daughter in death in 2009. Ms. Clarke missed her mother deeply and never quite recovered her loss.
In 1993, Ms. Clarke and her mother, Ruth, began attending Crossroads Church in Lillington, where their faith continued to grow and their love for God and family fully blossomed.
Ms. Clarke is survived by her brother, Thomas Dosier and his wife, Mary Lu of Fayetteville, NC; her brother, Phillip Dosier of Morristown, NJ; her niece, Dawn Swackhammer and her husband, Brac of Dexter, Maine; and her nephew, Thomas Dosier Jr. of Bunnlevel, NC.
A funeral internment service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Summit Hill United Methodist Church with her brother, Phillip Dosier, officiating.
Ms. Clarke will be laid to final rest with mother after their long separation.
The family will receive friends Saturday at the church following the service.
Strange & Weaver Funeral Service, Morrisdale, is in charge of the arrangements.