Jessie Clark Merrell

MERRELL, Jessie Clark 12/16/20-10/23/08. Arlington native and Dana Hall and Mount Holyoke graduate, passed away in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the age of 87. She was preceded in death by brothers, Edward P. Clark and Alexander M. Clark and grandson, John Nemoto Merrell. The daughter of Wilson D. Clark, Jr., president of Day Trust Company, and Sue E. MacWilliams, Jessie graduated from Dana Hall School in 1938 and Mount Holyoke College four years later. She worked for New England Telephone Company prior to enlisting in the US Marine Corps in March 1943. During basic training at Camp Lejeune, she wrote articles about her experience for the Boston Globe. She achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant and served at Marine Headquarters in Washington DC. Married in NYC on March 19, 1945, to David John Merrell of Bound Brook, NJ, both continued their active military service, until the end of 1945, when they settled in Arlington while her husband obtained his Ph.D. from Harvard University. In 1948, they moved to Minnesota, where Dave became a professor at the University of Minnesota. Jessie was a mother and homemaker until the late 1960's, when she went to work for the Minnesota League of Women Voters. Upon retiring in the mid-1980's, she kept busy with knitting, crossword puzzles, reading, traveling, and keeping in touch with college classmates and far-flung family. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, David J. Merrell; her children, Edward Clark Merrell (wife Carrie) of Gilroy, CA, David Wilson Merrell of Seattle, WA, James Hart Merrell (wife Linda) of Poughkeepsie, NY, and Ann Elizabeth Merrell of Haymarket, VA; grandchildren, Eric (fiancée Ramona Rosales), Lindsey Caudill (husband Cory), Jesse, Laura, David, and Wilson; great granddaughter Natalie Caudill; and several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service was held in St. Paul, Minnesota, Nov. 15, 2008, preceded by a military burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Assoc. or a charity of the donor's choice. Arranements by The Roseville Memorial Chapel 651-631-2727.