SKOWHEGAN – Mary Clara (Poirier) Withee, 91, lost her battle with cancer and renal failure on Feb. 17, 2021.

She was born in Skowhegan on March 13, 1929, the daughter of Vitaline (Johnson) and Frank J. Poirier Sr.

She married Arthur Withee of Pittsfield on Nov. 28, 1953.

They moved to Connecticut and lived there for several years until Arthur’s death in 1988. In the early ’90s, “Clara” as she was called, moved back to Maine.

She worked at the local spinning mill here in Skowhegan for a number of years, and then, when in Connecticut, worked at the Hill Tool Co. in Waterbury, Conn. and at Uniroyal in manufacturing.

One of her favorite pastimes was playing cards with her siblings and Scrabble with whoever wanted a game! She was great at it. Clara loved music and enjoyed accompanying her nephew Mike and others (who brought the instruments) to local nursing homes for songs and cheer.

She was an active member of Christ the King Parish in Skowhegan and of the Daughters of Isabella.

She is survived by three siblings, her brother, Joe Louis Poirier and his wife Lee of Norridgewock, her sister, Theresa Irwin and her husband Larry of Skowhegan, and her sister, Esther Tracy of Skowhegan; many nieces and nephews. Clara had five children, her son, Thomas lived three days only and died in 1969, her son, James died in 1995. She is survived by her son, Peter Withee and his wife Rita, her son, John Withee and his wife Dana, and her daughter, Beverly Withee; also six grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church, Water Street, Skowhegan on Tuesday Feb. 23 at 10:30 a.m. A committal service will be scheduled at Calvary Cemetery in Skowhegan in the spring.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Smart and Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan. Anyone who wishes to leave the family messages can do so on our website at – http://www.smartandedwardsfh.com.