Montie Lee Clem

Montie Lee Clem, of Frederick, passed away peacefully early Sunday morning, Nov. 16, 2025, at her Homewood Crumland Farms residence. Her death at age 93 was from natural causes.

Born Dec. 6, 1931, she was the only child of James Ellis and Dora Ann Treece Hartsell, in Stanly County, N.C., and the beloved wife of the late Rev. Joseph H. Clem, who preceded her in death in 1993.

Memories of Montie are cherished by two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Kathleen of Libertytown, Md., and Ellis and Robin of Fairfield, Pa.

After attending Endy High School, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Catawba College, Salisbury, N.C., where she met Joe. The classmates married following graduation in 1954. Montie began her career at Robert Fulton School in Lancaster, Pa., where she taught from 1954 to 1957 while her husband attended Seminary.

Montie loved primary education, so once her boys were older, she returned to the classroom teaching in Frederick County elementary schools Elm Street, Waverly, South Frederick, and North Frederick, from 1967 to 1992. During that time, she received a master’s degree from Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, W.Va.

In her retirement Montie enjoyed travel. She visited 44 of the U.S. states and many foreign parts around the globe, from Great Britain to New Zealand, Canada to Scandinavia, Australia to Germany, Russia to Bermuda, and France to Fiji. She experienced a variety of transportation on her excursions, including camel, steamboat, and hot air balloon. A sociable, jocular person, Montie made many friends on her trips.

She belonged to the Frederick County Retired School Personnel Association, Maryland Retired School Personnel Association, the Frederick Memorial Hospital Select Club, and the congregation of Faith United Church of Christ. Montie supported her alma mater as a member of the Catawba College True Blue Society.

Family will receive friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, for visitation followed by a brief memorial service at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. A graveside service will be held at Pine Grove Methodist Church, Albemarle, N.C., where she will be laid to rest with her husband and parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in their mother’s honor to The Catawba Fund at Catawba College, 2300 West Innes St., Salisbury, NC, 28144; or Faith United Church of Christ, 9333 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD, 21702.

Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.