Clarissa Merrill Howe of Ossineke died Sunday, February 3, 2008, at the home of her son in Rodney, MI. Clare was born in Alpena, MI, on 8-10-1921 to Herbert M. Howe and Maude Stewart Howe and was a lifelong resident of Alpena County. She married John N. Dumsch, Sr., in 1940 and was married to him for 33 years. They had two sons, John "Nick" Dumsch, Jr., and Paul S. Dumsch. Clare was employed by Alpena County, first in the Probate Court, then for many years in the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. She was also a member of the Alpena County Board of Canvassers for 20 years. She is survived by her sons, six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by John Dumsch, Sr., her brother Herbert Stewart Howe, her dear sister Barbara Howe Cloutier, two half sisters, Helen Rohr and Elizabeth Dawrs, and her closest childhood friend, Beth Silver. Bothered by ill health in her later years, Clare never lost her vitality, wit, and intellectual curiosity. She loved reading and considered her legacy to be the children she introduced to books. A private remembrance will be held at a later date.