Katherine S. Clark, "Kay," 90 of Lexington Park, MD died at Washington Hospital Center on January 10, 2012 with family at her side, of heart failure. She embodied the saying, "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, 'What a wonderful ride!'" She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, W. Ralph Clark, who died in 1997.

Kay was born in Billings, MT, and raised on Long Island, NY. She attended Hofstra University and earned a Bachelor's degree from New York University. She was a proficient classical pianist, and during college she enrolled in the Civil Air Patrol Training program and earned her pilot's license before she was 20. After her marriage to Ralph in 1943, they moved to Hawaii where they worked as civilians supporting the U.S. Navy during WWII, then moved to St. Mary's County in 1947 to work at NAS Patuxent. She worked part time as a secretary at Patuxent and also for the St. Mary's College of Maryland, when it was the "Seminary." For 25 years they lived in Washington DC during the week when Ralph's job took him there, and returned to St. Mary's on weekends.

Always seeking new horizons, Kay earned a Master's degree in Liberal Studies at Georgetown when she was 70. She was a world traveler, visiting, skiing and sailing in many countries for more than 50 years. A lifelong gourmet cook, she earned a cooking certificate from a cooking school in Italy. She traveled and taught as a volunteer with Elderhostel programs in Europe in her seventies and eighties after Ralph died.

She was active in many local organizations and a founding member of the St. Mary's Historical Society and the St. Mary's River Yacht Club. She was a member of the St. Mary's County Garden Club for many years and an active member of the Arts Alliance. She and friends in Washington D.C. formed a "French Group" that has met monthly for over 40 years to maintain their proficiency in that language.

But these facts don't capture the spirit of this intrepid woman who thought nothing of driving 12,000 miles throughout Europe during the 1960s, when her husband was working with the Navy on an aircraft carrier off Viet Nam for 6 months. "Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here we should dance!"

She is survived by her two daughters, Lani Clark (husband John Paradis) and Christine Paula Clark (partner Patrick Hillis) of St. Mary's City; three grandsons: Jay Ralph Bloomer and Michael James Bloomer, both of Winter Park, CO and Theodore Keith Clark of St. Mary's City; and many nieces and nephews.

Family will receive friends for Kay's Life Celebration Gathering on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the St. Mary's County Public Library, 23250 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and the SMCM Arts Alliance, 18952 East Fisher Road, St. Mary's City, MD 20686.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home.