[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 77 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1062]]
                PAYING TRIBUTE TO MARY ROSE CLARK WALKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2003

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I stand 
before this body of Congress to pay tribute to an outstanding woman 
from my district. Mary Clark Walker passed away recently at the amazing 
age of 108. Mary was one of a small number who had witnessed the dawn 
of two centuries, and the astounding advancement of technology in the 
United States over that time. Mary was lucky enough to see the 
beginning of the airplane, the television, and the modern automobile.
  At a very young age, Mary moved from California to Ouray, Colorado 
where her original house on Oak Street still stands today. Mary gained 
a reputation as a hard worker. At a very young age, Mary began working 
to provide her family with extra spending money. She would often travel 
by train to Montrose, Colorado, where she would work a week at a time 
for the Ashenfelter Ranch. Mary sometimes stayed at the ranch for up to 
a month before she would return home to her family. It was this kind of 
work ethic that garnered Mary the respect of her town, which 
congratulated her by throwing a special 100th birthday party in her 
honor. Mary was also blessed with two sons, Jack and Lester, who claim 
her secret for a long and healthy life was nothing more than clean 
living and hard work.
  Mr. Speaker, it is people like Mary that constitute the heart of our 
great nation as well as the spirit of the West and I am honored to 
recognize her life before this body of Congress and this nation. While 
we are all saddened by the loss of such a great woman, we can take some 
solace in knowing that she lived a long and happy life. My thoughts and 
prayers go out to Mary's friends and family during their time of 
mourning.

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