Skip (Edson Robert) Clark

Skip (Edson Robert) Clark

Easthampton, MA – Skip (Edson Robert) Clark, 82, passed away on Saturday, July 29th at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, with his wife Peggie, son Karl, and grandson Weston by his side.

Skip was born March 3, 1941, in Northampton, to Robert E. and Marjorie A. (Goddard) Clark. He grew up on Clark Ave. in Northampton, where he attended local schools, including Smith Vocational High School, where he graduated in 1960 from the carpentry program. In April 1963 he married the love of his life, Margaret “Peggie” Donovan, with whom he recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. A dedicated, hardworking man, he often worked two jobs, going from carpentry work in the day to grocery store work in the afternoon. Eventually he shifted fully from carpentry to grocery work, where he held various positions with First National Stores to Stop & Shop over the years. Before his retirement in 2006 he again had taken up carpentry, working for Cardinal Woodworking and finally with Precision Lithograining Company.

A man of strict routine, on any given day you could find him with his 7:00AM coffee buddies at the Easthampton Dinner, or at Big Y at 10:00 (where he knew all of the staff, and many of the customers) where you’d find him with a coffee, a donut and a scratch ticket. Growing up Karl remembers their Sunday breakfast routine where, no matter which diner happened to be their regular at the time, everyone knew Skip and their order was already in by the time they sat down.

He was a collector and enthusiast of model trains and baseball cards, an active bowler for much of his life and, much to the chagrin of his family… a lifelong Yankees fan. He loved camping and travelling, and had many adventures with Peggie, from trips to Alaska and Hawaii, to numerous cruises where they visited islands throughout the Caribbean with their close group of travel friends.

Above all else, Skip loved his family and friends. With them, he regularly demonstrated the power and importance of showing up and being present. From birthdays to weddings, graduations, reunions, Skip was always there, with a kind word, a handshake or hug and, often times, Bumpa’s famous coleslaw. He was a kind, humorous, deeply caring man, who leaves behind an indelible mark on the hearts and lives of those who were fortunate enough to call him family or friend.

He is survived by his wife Peggie, son Karl and his wife Deb, grandchildren Ryan (Ashley), Weston (Lauren), Shelby and Carson Clark, and great-grandchildren Brayden, Olivia, and Riley, as well as his sister Joyce-Ann Morin and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Stu and Gerry, and sister Nancy.

The family would like to express their thanks to the staff of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, particularly the ICU staff, for their dedicated, thoughtful care of Skip during his time the

A Celebration of Life will be held . on Sept 24th at American Legion in Easthampton from 1 to 5pm   Mitchell Funeral Home www.mitchellcofuneralhome.com

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