Gertrude (Coats) Clarke 1875-1929  
Categories: Deacon / Deaconess, Rev. Hurley S. Warren Officiating, The Sabbath Recorder Obituary
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 106, No 10, p 317, Mar. 11, 1929.
  Gertrude Coats Clarke, daughter of William Wallace and Emma Kenyon Coats, was born June 6, 1875, at Honeoye, Pa., and passed away in a private home near Wellsville, N. Y., February 10, 1929, in the fifty-fourth year of her age.
  Miss Coats, after graduation from Belmont High School, taught school for a time.
  She was baptized by Rev. George B. Shaw and united with the Friendship Seventh Day Baptist Church May 22, 1897.
  On February 14, 1899, she was married to Percy LeFloyd Clarke, by Rev. W. S/ Burdick.   (Next Thursday will mark the thirtieth wedding anniversary.)   To this union were born five children: Errington and Mary of Alfred, N. Y.; Mrs. Lawrence Bailey of New York City; and Neil and Maxson of Friendship, N. Y.
  Brother Percy Clarke was a deacon in the Nile Church.   He went away May 3, 1921.   Sister Clarke was ordained deaconess on October 28, 1922, at the Semi-Annual Meeting of the Western Association.   She faithfully served in this office until failing health kept her from public worship.   Her love for the communion service was portrayed in her thoughtful message, through Neil, at the last quarterly meeting, January 5.
  She is survived by her five children, two sisters - Mrs. William Claire of Friendship, and Miss Bertha Coats of Hastings, Neb.; one brother, George Darwin Coats of Honeoye, Pa.; two grandchildren, other relatives, and many friends.
  Mrs. Clarke was active in church and Sabbath school work, having taught in different classes of the school.   She also was interested deeply in community and social betterment as expressed in the Home Bureau, Grange, and other organizations.
  Her children especially mentioned the clarity of their mother's mind and memory and the number of letters she had written within the past several weeks.
  Farewell services were conducted from the Nile church by her pastor.   Interment was made in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Friendship, beside her life companion.     H. S. W.

Percy LeFloyd Clarke 1874-1921  
Categories: Deacon / Deaconess, Rev. Willard D. Burdick Officiating, The Sabbath Recorder Obituary
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 90, No 22, p 703, May 30, 1921.
  Percy L. Clarke, the oldest of six children born to Chester S. and Ophelia Clarke, was born at Nile, N. Y., June 9, 1874, and died at his home May 3, 1921.
  On February 14, 1899, he was united in marriage to Gertrude Coats, of Nile, by their pastor, Rev. Willard D. Burdick.   To them were born three sons and two daughters.   His married life was spent on the farm where he was born.
  Brother Clarke was baptized June 28, 1888, and united with the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Friendship, at Nile, N. Y.   His interest in the cause of Christ and faithfulness to the appointments of the church caused the church to choose him as one of the two selected on January 21, 1905, to serve as deacons of the church.   At the semi-annual meeting of the churches of the Western Association held at Nile he and Brother Milton J. Jordan were ordained as deacons at the Sabbath morning service on March 11, 1905, Dr. A. E. Main preaching the ordination sermon.
  Brother Clarke was always faithful in attending the appointments of the church, untiring in his service, and liberal in his giving for local church work and for denominational interests.   At several different times he acceptably served as superintendent of the Sabbath school.   He will be greatly missed by the church at Nile.
  For about two years he was in poor health.   But the skill of physicians and the love and care of his family could not restore him to health.
  Funeral services were held at the church on Friday afternoon.   Pastor John F. Randolph read scripture selections and offered prayer.   In accord with the wish of Brother Clarke, the sermon was by Rev. Willard D. Burdick, of New Market, N. J., once his pastor at Nile for nearly eight years.
  A large company of relatives and friends from near and far were present at the services, attesting their love and respect for the departed, and sympathy for those so sorely bereft.   The Grange of which Percy was a member attended in a body.
  The burial was in Maple Grove Cemetery at Friendship.     W. D. B.