Marilyn Kathryn (Boyle) Clark, 88, of Fishers, IN and formerly of Terre Haute died Tuesday afternoon, January 17, 2023. She was born May 24, 1934 in Indianapolis, IN to Stanley C. Boyle and Marie Daunt Boyle.
Survivors include her children, Mark D. Clark and his wife, Kristi, of Norton Shores, MI, Catherine M. (Clark) Meyer and her husband, Kurt Meyer, of Fishers, IN and Scott A. Clark and his wife, Rebecca Eller, of Lakewood, CO; and her four grandchildren, Natalie Clark (Andreas Wiede), Nathan Clark, Marie Meyer and Matt Meyer. Also surviving are her sister, Charlene (Boyle) Wooden; two nieces, Susan E. Wooden and Jennifer (Wooden) Cole and her family of Indianapolis; and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 52 years, William F. Clark; and a son, Robert G. Clark.
Marilyn was a 1956 graduate of Butler University earning a BA degree in English and a teacher’s license. During her career, she taught school at Schulte High School, took time off to raise her family of four children, and as they all entered school, she worked with her husband at Clark’s Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Tech and Bookkeeper.
Marilyn was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta where she served as Treasurer and Vice-President. She was Butler University’s Centennial Homecoming Chairman in 1956 where she was responsible for coordinating every facet from on campus activities as well as for the big downtown parade. Marilyn also served as President of the Women’s Butler Senior Honorary, Scarlet Quill. Marilyn worked with Dr. M.O. Ross, Butler University President and his wife, and was instrumental in establishing a chapter of the National Women’s Senior Honorary, Mortar Board, replacing Butler’s 25 year old local honorary, Scarlet Quill.
Marilyn was very active in the Terre Haute community where she was past-president of the League of Terre Haute, member of the local Kappa Alpha Theta alumni club, Treasurer of ARC for a number of years, Board member of the Martin Luther Homes, a founding member of TREES. Inc. and the second recipient of the TREES Mighty Oak award. In 1994, Marilyn was presented the Terre Award for Community Service by the Greater Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce and Terre Haute Tribune Star.
The love of holly inspired myriad actions and memberships for Marilyn and her husband, Bill. Eventually they proposed, received backing, planned and developed the Clark-Landsbaum Deming Park Holly Arboretum. In September 1992 with the guidance and help of many individuals, organizations, businesses and groups, the first holly was planted in Deming Park.
There are over 425 hollies now planted and the garden earned the title of Official Holly Arboretum by the Holly Society of America, one of only 18 in the United States and 21 in the world.
In 1993, Marilyn and Bill were presented the Parks and Recreation, City of Terre Haute, President’s Award in recognition of outstanding community service to the Parks Department. In 1995, the Mayor’s Award for the City of Terre Haute was presented for outstanding service to the citizens of Terre Haute and City’s Parks and Recreation Department for designing and creating the Holly Arboretum. Marilyn and Bill were active in both the National Holly Society of America and the regional Great Rivers Chapter of HSA societies for many years. Bill and Marilyn received the Joseph C. McDaniel Award for dedicated service to the Great Rivers Chapter in 1998. Marilyn served on the National Board of the Holly Society of America and received the highest award presented by HSA, the Wolf-Fenton Award, in November 2008 for outstanding contributions and dedicated service in the field of holly. The couple established the Friends of the Arboretum in 1997 with a group of interested citizens and friends to promote, guide, develop and oversee the growth and development of the Arboretum. Many hours of hands-on work in the gardens caused them to be dubbed “Official Park Department Employees” recognized with a sweatshirt!
Active in her church, St. Patrick Catholic Church of Terre Haute, Marilyn served on many committees over the years including the St. Patrick’s Day Party, Religious Ed (and teacher), hosting teenager parties, RCIA sponsor and more recently, Garden Angels Committee.
Marilyn dearly loved her children, family and friends. She volunteered as a brownie and girl scout leader, cub scout leader, room mother, PTO, field trip chaperone, and at athletic events supporting each of her children and when she could, her grandchildren as well.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 12:00 Noon, Friday, January 27, 2023 in St. Patrick Catholic Church. Entombment will be in Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation is scheduled prior to services from 11:00 AM- 12:00 Noon in the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that any memorial contributions be made to the Clark-Landsbaum Deming Park Holly Arboretum, c/o Friends of the Arboretum, Inc., 8460 South Singhurst Street, Terre Haute, IN 47802, www.hollyfota.org/index_demingpark.htm or to the charity of your choice. Funeral information and tributes may be found at www.callahanandhughes.com .