IN MEMORIAM: Maryhelen Clague, Windham House ’54-’56
Ms. Maryhelen Clague, who attended classes at General through the Windham House program from 1954-1956, died on May 7th, 2023. She was born in Lakeland, Fla. on April 4th,1930 to Paul and Christie Ellis. She lived in Washington DC from 1930-1934, Lakeland, Fla. from 1934 to 1940, and Tampa, Fla. from 1940 to 1954.
Clague was one of five children with three sisters and one brother: Erin, Frances, Pauline, and Gilbert. She graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1948 and then earned a master’s degree from the Florida State University School of Music. After graduating, she bravely got on a train to New York City and attended the Union Theological Seminary where she graduated with a Master of Religious Education in 1956. During that time she was able to take classes at General through the “Windham House” program, an experience she joyfully recounted in a reflection she wrote for the 50 Years of Women at General commemoration last year.
Clague then worked as a music teacher at Ruskin Elementary and at St Thomas Episcopal Church in New York City. She was the Director of Education at St. John’s Church in Larchmont New York from 1957 to 1965, where she met and married the Rev. William James Clague on February 22, 1965. She was a long-time resident of Westchester County NY where she raised her family. She returned to Tampa, Florida in 1987, and eventually moved to Zephyrhills in 2001. She was a devout Episcopalian and was an active member of numerous churches in her lifetime including All Saints Church in Staten Island NY, St Mary’s Church in Scarborough NY, St James House of Prayer in Tampa, Fla., and St Elizabeth’s Church in Zephyrhills, Fla.
Clague was an accomplished pianist and organist and sang in the church choir. She continued to play the organ for Sunday service while in her nineties at St Elizabeth’s. She was an author of numerous published books of Historical fiction and Historical romance and had a love for reading, writing, opera and exploring history.
She is preceded in death by her husband, her four siblings and her dear companion Bill Kustes. She is survived by her children William, Sarah and John; her daughter in law Margaret, whom she loved like her own, and her grandchildren Avery, Alex and Samantha; her nieces and nephews and many friends.
In her own words: “I loved: The Episcopal Church, singing in the choirs, playing the organ, the piano, reading, writing, exploring family history and history itself. I especially love my family, my husband, children, grandchildren, Bill Kustes, my sisters, Mother and Dad and brother, Grandmother and Aunt Vurla! And I especially love the Lord Jesus Christ, who, through all my troubles and joys and ordinary days, has been a real Presence in my life. I have been so blessed!!”
A funeral service for Maryhelen will be held Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St. James House of Prayer Episcopal Church, 2708 N. Central Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602.