Mary Clist

Cobleskill - Mrs. Mary Elizabeth (Pollard) Clist, 86, of Canterbury Drive, died Thursday, April 24, 2008 at her residence in the presence of her loved ones.

She was born January 18, 1922 in Cobleskill, the oldest child of Ray F. and Bernice (Parsons) Pollard. Mary was very active in 4-H Club while in school and graduated from the former Cobleskill Central School in 1940. She graduated from Cornell University in 1944 with a degree in Home Economics Journalism. She also met her husband Walter Mark Clist, Jr., a Cornell Hotel School graduate, whom she married on October 20, 1944.

After college, she and her husband lived in Neenah, Wisconsin where she worked as a book editor until the birth of their children. The family moved to Houston, Texas in 1956 where Mary was very active in her church and in Girl Scouts with her daughters.

Mary's husband Walter died on October 22, 1963. In the summer of 1965, she moved back to Cobleskill with her children and lived with her mother Bernice Pollard. After working in the college library, Mary returned to school at SUNY Albany where she earned a Master of Library Science (MLS) degree in 1970. Mary worked at the Cobleskill Community Library and then at the college library. She retired from there in 1985 as Librarian/Head of Technical Services.

Throughout her time in Cobleskill, Mary was very active in Zion Lutheran Church and worked at such things as Altar Guild, choir, ushering, and cooking for events. She also supported and was active in county historical groups, the Hospital Auxiliary, and others. Her many interests included reading, counted cross-stitch, music, travel, and family events. After her mother died in 1996, Mary took over the cookie baking that she so enjoyed sharing with family and friends.

Mary's youngest daughter Jane died on December 10, 1970. Her two younger brothers Ray Pollard, Jr. and Charles Pollard also predeceased her. She is survived by her daughter Ann Van Deusen, and her husband Jim; their daughter Jan Inguagiato, her husband Larry, and their daughters Jessie and Kaitlyn of Alexandria, VA; their son James, his wife Shannon, and their two daughters Hallie and Jamie of Albany, OR. Mary is also survived by her son Mark and his wife Christine Richter Clist of Glendale, AZ: their son Josh and his two sons Brandon and Gabriel of DeForest, WI; their daughter Courtney and her husband Jim, and their son Caden of Glendale, AZ; and their son Jeremy and his wife Jenae of Redding, CA. Other family members include her sister Helen Schulte and husband Bert, her sister-in-law Marie and her husband Jim Suiter, all of Cobleskill; and her sister-in-law Twyla Schneider of Rancho Mirage, CA, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM on Friday, May 2, 2008 at Zion Lutheran Church, Main Street, Cobleskill, with Rev. Jennifer Boyd officiating. Friends may call from 6 to 8 on Thursday, May 1 at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill. Burial will be later in California where her husband Walter is also buried.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 615 Main St., Cobleskill, NY 12043.