PEABODY - Ms. Melissa G. Clarke, 62, of Peabody, passed away peacefully, on Friday, August 20, 2021 at Beverly Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Peabody, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Phyllis (Perkins) Clarke. She was raised in Middleton, receiving her education in the Middleton School System and was a graduate of Masconomet High School.

Melissa held several jobs on the North Shore, some supported by the Northeast ARC and some with the support of Bass River, most notably were her positions at Burlington Coat Factory and the Northeast ARC shredding Division.

A lifelong resident of the North Shore, she lived in a home supported by Bass River since 1985. Outgoing and friendly Melissa developed friendships wherever she went. She had a lifelong love of music and the Arts; she sang in the church choir for several years and was always the first on the dance floor and the last one to leave. Her fashion sense, quick wit, challenges to authority and easy smile endeared her to many and will be deeply missed by those who loved her.

Surviving Melissa are her sister, Priscilla Kuffel and her husband, Donald of Asheville, NC, her brother, Gary Clarke of Hartley, DE and several aunts, uncles and cousins. She is also survived by her housemates, Marianne, Sarah, Carolyn and Denise with whom she lived for 39 years and other friends and staff from Andover Street. She was predeceased by her sisters, Nancy Tucker and Judith Merchant and her lifelong roommate and best friend Mary.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral service which will be held in O'Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St. (Rte. 62) Danvers on Wednesday, August 25th at 10 A.M. Burial in Oakdale Cemetery, Middleton. Visiting hours on Tuesday, August 24th from 5 to 7 P.M. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Melissa's memory to Bass River Inc., Attn: Executive Director, 437 Essex St., Beverly, MA 01915 or to the Special Olympics Mass., 512 Forest St., Marlborough, MA 01752. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.