Obituary of Mary Clarke Harrison

Mary Clarke Harrison, 83, of Boalsburg, died Monday, September 10, 2018, at the Wynwood House, Boalsburg.

Born October 28, 1934, in Teaneck, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Reverend Robert J. and Margaret I. E. Hellstrom Clarke. On June 23, 1956, she married Paul C. Harrison, Jr., who preceded her in death on March 24, 2005.

She is survived by three children, Paul Clarke “Chip” Harrison and his wife, Sheri, of State College, Peggy Ackerman of Anthem, AZ and Amy Binkley and her husband, Kevin, of Phoenix, AZ; four grandchildren, Mark Rocco Harrison, Troy Daniel Harrison, Steven Paul Harrison and Casey Nicolle Ackerman; and one great-grandson, Liam Michael Harrison. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Peggy Craige and Lillian Van Derveer. 

Mary was a 1952 graduate of Fort Lee High School, Fort Lee NJ. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Rutgers University in 1956.  Prior to her primary role of homemaker, she worked as an assistant to the dean of the college of Health and Human Development at Penn State University.

She was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, where for many years she managed the Penn State Retiree Dinners that were held at the church. She was also a member of the Episcopal Student Ministry at Penn State where she and her husband Paul provided support for the Episcopal bike-a-thons which raised money for people without housing.  Her spiritual outreach continued through the Church of the Good Shephard in Hawk Run.

Her community involvement continued through participating in the school districts PTA/PTSA, coordinating UNICEF collections and working on census data collection with the county.

In her retirement, Mary and her husband Paul demonstrated chair caning at local arts festivals, and also served as visiting artisans at Colonial Williamsburg.  She participated in volunteer work through the Centre Peace organization and the snack bar at Mount Nittany Hospital.

Mary loved her family and spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She was an avid gardener and loved any chance to be outside surrounded by her vegetables and flowers.

A memorial service will be held at 10AM, on November, 3 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 208 W Foster Ave, State College with the Reverend’s Jeffrey Packard and Cliff Johnston officiating. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Wynwood House c/o Rural Living Inc., 220 Regent Court, State College, PA 16801.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.