Tootsie Clark, a true Angel of The North, passed away peacefully in her home at Marblemount, Washington on Sunday, September 24, 2017.
She was born Madrene E. Buller on February 15, 1922 in Marblemount, at the foothills of Cow Heaven, the last of six children of Richard & Ethel (Rector) Buller, and her life story of 95 years is more words then this announcement can convey.
The Buller family developed deep ties with the beautiful valley in 1888 establishing the area known as Bullerville, and Tootsie lived most of her life in the Marblemount community.
She received a certificate of perfect attendance from her teacher in the one room school house in Marblemount that she attended as a child. She graduated from Concert High School, where she took an interest in bookkeeping. This skill was used to do all the bookkeeping for her father’s business, Buller Brother’s Lumber Company.
She was united in marriage to Rudy Clark on Nov 18, 1941 in Concrete and they made their home and raised their children Judith and Donald in Marblemount.
Tootsie Buller-Clark evolved with the changes in the area. After her father’s mill burned in 1953 and at a time when women were seldom business leaders, Tootsie, who had a natural business sense, saw an opportunity for a small business for workers in the area, she moved and converted the vacant mill cabins to monthly rentals, naming her place Clark’s Cabins.
In 1983 she purchased an octagon fast food restaurant for her sister to operate on the property and thusly the ‘Eatery’ restaurant was born. After the opening of the North Cascade Highway (Hwy 20) she added a Museum and indoor seating to the restaurant and changed the name to Clark’s Skagit River Resort. This landmark destination caught the eye of many writers, including Northwest Backroads, Sunset Magazine, The Concrete Herald and King 5 News, but not before Tootsie had started her annual spring trek to be first in line at the pass gate opening on Hwy 20 every year, greeting everyone as if they were her family, with fresh cinnamon rolls and coffee out of the trunk of her car for all to enjoy while everyone waited for the DOT to open the road.
Although she went by Tootsie, (a nickname Fred Tromley, one of her father’s mill employees gave her) after a 1918 comic strip Toots and Casper. She would in her eighties, also became known as the cinnamon roll lady. She worked endlessly and tirelessly at her resort, and in her restaurant, honoring her heritage in her cabins, and showcasing her history in her museum, becoming known for her many home cooked pies, fried chicken dinners, and gracious hospitality.
A vital member of the business community in Marblemount, she received many business awards, and was honored when asked to be Grand Marshall for the Concrete 4th of July parade. A petite little lady, with a pixy like personality, she loved people, dancing, and her North Cascades.
She is survived by her children, son, Donald Clark and his wife Sheri and daughter, Judith Lee Brooks and her husband, Robert; grandchildren Jurene Brooks-Hertel, Greg Brooks and partner Holly Perez, and Jason Brooks; numerous nieces and nephews in and around Marblemount, Sedro-Woolley, Mount Vernon and California area; great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Aaron Brooks, and honored by Holly’s children, Shae and Niko Perez, and their children, Kay, Riedick, and Ayden. She was preceded in death by her husband Rudy and grandson David Brooks. She touched so many lives, and has been adored by many more. If you’ve met her, you will never forget her. Her presence will be missed by all who knew her.
A Potluck Celebration of her 95 years of life will be held on Saturday, October 14th at 1 p.m. at the Marblemount Community Club, where she was a Life Charter Member. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Marblemount Community Club, P.O. Box 100, Marblemount 98267 or The Clark Family Memorial at 58468 Clark Cabin Road, Rockport 98283.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.