GEORGE GUNTHER CLARKE, of Memphis died Saturday evening March 21 at the age of 83. Mr. Clarke was born in Memphis to Percy Caulifield Clarke, Jr. and Louise Gunther Clarke. He graduated from The University of the South at Sewanee in 1948 and returned home to Memphis to work in the family insurance business, P. C. Clarke, Inc. He served as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was a lifelong and devoted member of St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral serving numerous times on the Cathedral Chapter including election as the Chapter's Warden. Among his other service activities, of which there were too many to list, Mr. Clarke was the Treasurer of the Tenn-Ark-Miss Girl Scout Council for many years. He helped to found Runaway House, now known as Family Link, and he served as its Treasurer for many years. He was later President and a Life Member of the Memphis Chapter of Family Service of America. For ten years, he was a trustee of Brooks Art Gallery (now Brooks Museum of Art). He also served several terms as a Board Member of Youth Service in Memphis (now Bridges). The University of the South at Sewanee was especially beloved to Mr. Clarke and he served as a Trustee of the University representing the Diocese of Tennessee and the Diocese of West Tennessee. When Sewanee Military Academy and St. Andrew's Academy merged, Mr. Clarke was on their initial Board. He also served on the Board of the DuBose Conference Center. Perhaps his greatest service achievement was in serving as Scoutmaster of Troop 34 at Grace St. Luke's Episcopal Church for over twenty-five years. As scoutmaster, Mr. Clarke shaped positively the lives of hundreds of young men, many of whom went on to become prominent and respected leaders in this community. For his contribution to Scouting, he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award. Mr. Clarke had been a member of Troop 34 himself, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Mr. Clarke had an enormous love for the game of golf and played well into his seventies. He once recorded a hole-in-one on the 12th hole at Augusta National. He enjoyed sailing and was a member of the Delta Sailing Club. He also loved hunting duck and goose and enjoyed white-water canoeing. He was a member of the Memphis Country Club, the Memphis Literary Society, and was a proud member of the Memphis Speaker's Club. He leaves behind his wife of almost 53 years, the love of his life, Mary Ann Ramsey Clarke. He also leaves his son George Gunther Clarke, Jr. and his wife Julia Hopper Clarke, and his son Percy Caulfield Clarke, III, all of Memphis. He also leaves two sisters, Louise Clarke Bowles of Houston, Texas and Eleanor Clarke Miller of Memphis. Burial will be in the columbarium at St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral following a memorial service on Thursday, March 26, at 3 p.m. There will be a visitation in the Church parish hall beginning at 2 p.m. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, any memorials go to St. Mary's Cathedral, Boy Scout Troop 34, c/o Grace St. Luke's Episcopal Church or to The University of the South at Sewanee. Canale Funeral Directors 901-452-6400 (Published in The Commercial Appeal on 3/24/2009)