Clarence W. Duryea, 94, a resident of Bay Minette for 28 years, died Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 at North Baldwin Infirmary.
He was born in Long Island City, N.Y. During World War II, he served as civilian medical administrator with the Eritrea Service Command in East Africa and then with the Army’s Medical Administrative Corps at Vaughn General Hospital in Chicago.
He began his career as administrative assistant at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, Long Island, from 1938 to 1942. He was appointed administrator of the Yonkers General Hospital after having served one year as assistant administrator.
He served as a New York State delegate to the American Hospital Association and as a member of the New York State Senate Health Committee Advisory Council on Health Care.; was a past president of the New York State Hospital Association; Westchester County Hospital Association and Middle Atlantic Hospital Assembly; a former governor and treasurer of the Greater New York Hospital Association. He served as an industry member on the New York State Labor Department's General Industry Minimum Wage Board and as a member of the New York State Hospital Review and Planning Council; was a member of the Yonkers Board of Ethics and was a past president of the Yonkers City Club, Homefield Civic Association and the Lions Club.
He retired in 1978 as administrator of the Yonkers General Hospital, NY and served as the Executive Director of the Bay Minette Chamber of Commerce in the early 1980s and as Treasurer of the Bay Minette Land Company until his death.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Emily.
Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Mary Elisabeth Duryea of Bay Minette; son Roy (Helen) Duryea of Jarretsville, Miss.; daughter, Jane (Steve) Dei Ray of The Villages, Fla.; step-son, Bob (Deborah) Ewing of Avondale Estates, Ga.; step-daughter, Leisle (Thomas) Mims of Daphne; seven grandchildren, Edward Todd, Lara Kensey, Julie Petzel, Benjamin and Jessica Ewing, Denman and Walker Mims; six great-grandchildren, Steven, Jake and Jonathan Todd, Carly and Andrew Kensey, Jack Petzel; two sisters, Ruth Ladd of Brownville, Maine, and Alva Firth of Eden Prarie, Minn.; numerous nieces and nephews.
A prayer service was held Monday, Dec. 1 at Norris Funeral Home with the Rev. Ernest Hyndman Jr. officiating.
Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, Dec. 2 St. Agatha Catholic Church in Bay Minette.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the North Baldwin Infirmary Foundation or St. Agatha's Catholic Church.
Arrangements were made by Norris Funeral Home, Bay Minette.
