Mary Ann Clarke

Mary Ann (Kuhlman) Clarke of Manassas was called home to God after a well lived 83 years following a brief battle with metastatic renal cancer. She was surrounded by family and friends until the end. She was born in 1935 in St Louis, MO, where she grew up working at her dad’s grocery stores. She was a graduate of St Louis University School of Nursing. She spent her early career as head operating room nurse at Cardinal Glennon Hospital for Children in St Louis before she and her young growing family relocated to Virginia in 1968. She retired from full time nursing to expand and raise her large brood of 8 and over the years worked as a special needs school bus driver, restaurateur, caterer, and spent a large portion of her time volunteering and giving back to the community.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Clarke, and daughter, Ann Clarke Dollard (Mike). She is survived by her children David Clarke, Joan-Clarke Beahm (Mark), Daniel Clarke, Paul Clarke (Catherine), Joseph Clarke (Michael), Elizabeth Kelso (Andrew), and Jennifer Layden (Joe), grandchildren Michael Clarke (Alicia), Markas Beahm, Taylor Beahm, namesake Mary Elise Beahm, Stephanie Dollard, Jackson Kelso, Leah Kelso, Carter Layden, Hiroya Tonoshita, Kate Fajardo, and one revered great grandson, Alexander Clarke.

While she immensely loved her children and their spouses, she absolutely adored her grandchildren beyond all measure. They were a continuous source joy and pride in her life. Always their biggest fan no matter what the pursuit, she was known to routinely drive 3 hours round trip in the dark just to watch an hour-long game or performance. She spent many a Saturday driving from town to town to catch the events of multiple grandchildren throughout the day. Even when she couldn’t be there in person, she enjoyed seeing videos of whatever her grandkids were doing, whether it be any and every single sport, talent shows or robotics competitions. iPhone savvy, she was constantly Facetiming or texting and doling out words of wisdom to her grandchildren.

Known to many by the nickname “Baseball Mary”, she dedicated an enormous amount of the last 50 years to serving her community. This was her 49th year serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Manassas Baseball League and served as president of the league for close to 20 years. She was an extremely knowledgeable coach and a fierce competitor with a winning record. She was a stand out in the 70s when female coaches were very uncommon. She helped mentor countless children both on and off the field and gave so much of herself helping others. She was known to be a very persistent and persuasive fundraiser. In more recent years, she also spent a large amount of time pursuing donations to support The Ann Clarke Dollard Memorial Foundation, a non-profit started in her late daughter’s name to assist those in our area undergoing cancer treatments. When not at the fields, taking care of her grandchildren, volunteering, being Woman of the Year, organizing fund raisers, serving on the city’s Safety Advisory Board, or a host of other altruistic pursuits over the years, she enjoyed spending time yelling at the TV during Redskins games, watching Judge Judy, and texting her older granddaughters her uncensored opinions of various Bachelor/Bachelorette cast members.

The family will receive friends at Pierce Funeral Home in Manassas on Sunday March 24 from 3-6pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas, VA on Monday March 25 at 1:30pm. Interment will immediately follow at Stonewall Memorial Gardens where she will be laid to rest alongside her daughter and husband. All are welcome to join a celebration of life to follow at 4:00pm at 9208 Lee Avenue in Old Town Manassas. Memorial donations in her name can be made to The Ann Clarke Dollard Memorial Foundation where her long legacy of giving back to the community will continue.