Mary Frances Clinard

Preceding her in death were her grandparents, Edd Suiter & Lou Vicey Manning; parents, Julia Suiter & Grover Cleveland Suiter; husband, Horace E. Clinard Sr.; two brothers, Davis Vick and Burnice Suiter; and two sisters Elois (Vick) West and Kathryn (Suiter) Bennett.

She is survived by her brother Tommy Suiter of Clarksville, daughter Patricia Craft of Gallatin TN, son Horace Clinard II (Marilyn) of Taylors SC, daughter Rebecca (Bo) Kirkpatrick of Farragut TN, and son Michael Clinard (Shirley) of Clayton NC, and seven grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.

Mary was a strong and self-determined woman. She was self-employed before the description ‘woman-owned business’ became as well-known as it is today.

The family will receive friends Sunday, February 18, 2018 from 12pm to 2pm at Berry Highland Memorial with a Funeral Service to follow at 2pm. Interment immediately following in the Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery with Andrew Osakue officiating. Friends may leave their thoughts and memories at www.highlandmemorialknoxville.com.

Pallbearers were:

Duke Towe, grandson

Troy Towe, grandson

Arne Irwin, husband of granddaughter, Tonya Towe Irwin

Andrew Towe, great grandson

Barton Beckham, husband of granddaughter, Julia Clinard Beckham

Scot Kirkpatrick, grandson

Nicholas Towe, great grandson

Mike Howard, step-grandson

Honorary Pallbearers:

Derek Towe, grandson

Brian Kirkpatrick, grandson, represented by Henry Kirkpatrick, great grandson

If only she had written her obituary, her family wouldn't struggle to confine in a few short words her magnificence.

One might say she was only a humble mother.

But the fact is, there's no such thing.

She spent her life being an example.

An example of Love, Fairness, Strength, Honor and Right from Wrong.

A teacher of Faith, Education, the Arts, Class, & Critical Thinking.

A health provider for temperatures, abrasions, broken bones, general illness & broken hearts.

She was our Strength, our Reason, and our Disciplinarian.

She was our Mentor - making us clones of honest values.

She was our matriarch - our Joan of Arc.

She was our hero, the architect of our future.

She was an Original!