BLOOMINGTON - Marguerite Evelyn Clarke passed away after a brief illness following the celebration of her 91st birthday with her family.

She was born Nov. 23, 1916, to Ella and Frank Dobson.-; She was the oldest of four children and a lifelong resident of Bloomington. Her parents, brother Warren, sister Florence Beltz and nephew Steven Beltz, preceded her in death.

Marguerite was a passionate tennis player and was passionate about reading and education. She graduated from Bloomington High School in 1935. She then attended Illinois Wesleyan University for two years, until 1937, when the harsh reality of the Depression forced her to quit.

She married Harold Dee Clarke and had two children, Jeannine (Dodels) and Laurel (Mozlin), and fulfilled her lifelong dream of returning to IWU, graduating with a degree in elementary education in 1962, the same weekend Jeannine graduated from high school. Marguerite was a strong advocate for education, teaching for one year in Saybrook-Arrowsmith and for 20 years as a substitute teacher in Bloomington public schools, Unit 5, Central Catholic High School and University High School.-;She loved every minute of teaching and always tried to encourage children in the importance of an education.

In later years, she loved to research and write, mostly about the history of Bloomington and the heroism of her generation, the men and women from Central Illinois who served in World War II.-;She was a true champion of the soldiers and the civilians left at home, writing her last book, "Tales and Details of WWII," as a tribute to the veterans. She was instrumental in gathering all the names of the military dead for the McLean County World War II Memorial at the old Bloomington City Hall. She touched many lives.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Beck Memorial Home in Bloomington, with Rev. Vaughn Hoffman officiating.-; Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the memorial home.-;Burial will follow in Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington.-;

Beck Memorial Home in Bloomington is in charge of arrangements.