The Reverend Peggy Clason—dedicated religious educator and consultant, parish minister, and volunteer pastoral counselor for residents in her retirement home—died on 29 August 2017, aged 76.
Marguerite Carlson was born on 3 April 1941 in New Britain, Connecticut, to Arvid and Dorothea Walleen Carlson.

In 1963 (the year in which she married her beloved spouse Don Clason), she was graduated summa cum laude from Upsala College (NJ) with a B.A. in English and Religion. While working initially in the publishing field, Peggy became active in religious education at East Shore UU Church in Mentor, OH. She went on to become the congregation’s Director of RE (1972–81) and, while still in that role, began ministerial study at Meadville Lombard Theological School, completing her M.Div. in 1981.

Ms. Clason was ordained on 4 October 1980 by the East Shore church in Mentor and continued there for another eight years as Minister of RE until 1988. She was then called to a parish ministry at the UU Society of Cleveland in Shaker Heights, where she served for seventeen years until retirement in 2005, when she was named Minister Emerita. Beyond local ministry, the Rev’d Ms. Clason continued service as Education Consultant to the UUA’s Ohio-Meadville District (1988–91) and as coauthor of the adult RE curriculum, Consider the Basics (1992).

She is survived by her spouse of 54 years Don, children Eric Clason and Christine Briede, three grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service took place on 30 September 2017 at East Shore UU Church in Mentor. Memorial donations are encouraged to the UU Society of Cleveland, to East Shore UU Church, and to the Life Care Fund of Ohio Living Breckenridge Village.