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Mary was born in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Suzie and Paul Yarco, on February 18, 1919. She had three brothers.
She was married to William (Bill) Clark in Sandpoint, they had three children; Helen (Clark) White, Bill Clark, Bonners Ferry, and Sue (Chi Chi) Brawn, Springfield, Oregon.
When their kids were young, She and Bill lived in Moyie Springs, where she worked as a cook for the Moyie Club. She has many stories of the friends she made during this time.
They eventually moved into Bonners Ferry, where Mary worked at the bakery, Lindsay Helmer Hardware and the Post Office.
One time she told Bill she wanted to paint her house purple. He didn’t think it was a very good idea, so she walked home on her lunch hour and got the front painted before he came home. Too late for Bill to change her mind.
It is purple to this day!
She was known as “The lady in the purple house.” She even received a card from one of her grandkids addressed only to “Grandma Mary in the purple house - Bonners Ferry Idaho.” It found her just fine!
Bill died in 1970 and Mary married Melvin Mesenbrink. Mel died in 1980.
Mary baked five loaves of bread every Thursday because there were no meals served at the Senior Center on that day. If you went to visit Mary, more than likely you left with a fresh loaf of homemade bread. If she heard of a fundraiser, she made sure they had a loaf of her bread to raffle off. It was usually one of the first items sold.
Mary loved music, dancing and gathering with her many friends. She has probably danced with every man who ever attended the dances in Bonners Ferry or Moyie Springs.
Mary decided in 2012 that it was time for her to quit driving and move into the Restorium. After all, she had been a member of The Friends of the Restorium since its beginning.
This is a group of people who work very hard to keep the Restorium a place that Boundary County can be proud of.
She was very happy there but, unfortunately, her health required that she move to the extended care facility at the hospital. She always said it was a wonderful place to be, and she loved the people and the care that she got there.
No matter where Mary was, she always stayed involved with life.
Mary was preceded in death by two husbands, one brother, one grandson, one granddaughter and many friends.
She is survived by two brothers, two children, 14 grandkids, 38 great-grandkids, 40 great-great grandkids, two great-great-great grandkids and many nieces, nephews and friends.