Allison M. Clark, 65

TILTON — Allison Clark passed away unexpectedly in January.

Allison Mary Clark was born in Berea, Ohio, March 5, 1960, to Mariann and Peter Clark. She lived in Strongsville, Ohio, with her six siblings until her family moved to New Hampshire, when she was in elementary school.

As a young girl, Allison made friends easily. She was smart, talented and cute. She played piano, attended Sunday School, and was involved in Girl Scouts. During her high school years, she played basketball and softball, enjoyed skiing, acted in school plays, and was a talented artist, graduating from Winnisquam Regional High School in 1978. Allie worked summers at the local Dairy Queen. As a member of the Royal Eagles Drum & Drill Corp of Plymouth, she marched in the Presidential Inaugural Parade for President Richard Nixon in Washington, D.C.

Allie attended college at New England College in Henniker, and Keene State College in Keene, earning her bachelor of arts in education and human services. Following college, she made her home in Keene, enjoying the classic New England beauty, culture, and opportunities abundant in the area. She worked in several of the downtown shops including a bookstore, an antique shop, and as a barista at one of the gourmet coffee shops. Allie enjoyed meeting people and catching up on all the local happenings. For many years she participated in the festivities for the annual Keene Pumpkin Festival — an event that put Keene in the Guinness Book of World Records for the Most Lit Jack-o-Lanterns displayed in one place. Allie delighted in sharing that the legendary "Jumanji" movie was filmed in downtown Keene during her time living and working there. She also worked as a waitress, and later a cook, at the renowned Peter Christian’s restaurant.

A longstanding employee of the local JCPenney store, Allie held the position of visual merchandise manager. Her talent and skill for artistic design and decoration, with attention to detail, was evident throughout her work and in her home.

In 2017, she moved back to Tilton to care for her mother in her later years, preparing delicious meals and helping with household chores. Allie was an avid reader and frequently visited the Hall Memorial Library, often bringing a plate of warm cookies, muffins or brownies for the staff. She enjoyed the daily crossword puzzle, reading books, working on jigsaw puzzles, cooking, gardening, and caring for her cat Mimi. A true New Englander, Allie never missed a televised Patriots game.

Allison loved living in her home on the hill and the nature that surrounded her. She enjoyed the quiet serenity and beauty of winter after a fresh snowfall. In the spring and summer her yard blossomed with wildflowers including violets and lily of the valley. Cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, and other songbirds sparked joy year round. She especially enjoyed seeing the families of deer that visited her yard.

Allie was grateful every day for the blessings in her life — her family, her home, and her close friends. She was kind, caring, and had a generous heart.

Allison is predeceased by her loving parents Peter S.B. Clark (1979) and Mariann Wiltse Clark (2019); her brothers David Wiltse Clark (1967) and Richard Lee Wiltse Clark (2011); and her brother-in-law Douglas Boschen (2016). Family includes her siblings Jeanne Tilton Boschen of North Carolina, Leslie Clark Freeland and her husband John of Michigan, Christopher and Susan Clark of Massachusetts, Peter and Alex Clark of New York, and many cousins. Allie boasted that she was the “cool aunt” and loved her nieces and nephews dearly including Carey and David Tilton, Emily, Hannah and Max Freeland, William, Andrew and Claire Clark, Samantha and Christina Clark, and Ernie, Marcy, Tricia, Lee, Robbie and Amanda Clark.

Many thanks to the Smart Memorial Home, in Tilton, for their assistance and support to the family during this difficult time. A reception in her honor will be planned for a later date to celebrate her life and share memories with those who knew and loved her.

As Allie liked to say in parting, “Ciao for now!”