Frances Loretta Clement

Frances Loretta “Cookie” Clement, age 84, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, Ya-Ya sister, and occasional adventurer, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2025, in Olney, Maryland. Cookie will be interred on a date to be determined at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, in Maxwell, Nebraska.

Cookie was born on September 12, 1940, to Charlotte Ceclia Cook, at Doctor’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. Cookie was raised primarily by her aunt, Alberta Rosealie Cook, and spent her early years gaining confidence and an independent streak while enrolled at various boarding schools in the District, Maryland, and Virginia. She was known to routinely sneak out of her dorm just “to see what was on the other side of the fence.”

Cookie spent her high school years at St. Mary’s Academy in Leonardtown, Maryland.  During her years at the Academy, Cookie met a group of classmates, who eventually labeled themselves the “Ya-Ya Sisters”. The Ya-Yas included Phyllis Farrell Blair, Virginia Lynch Royston, Sarah Jean Hammett Pingleton, Joan Exchanger Adams, and the late Frances (Frankie) Wilkenson Sullivan, Jean Hayden Buckler, and Mary Gale Russell Adams—all of whom remained life-long friends and got together for many reunions.

After graduating from the Academy, Cookie met and married Daniel A. Guy, Sr., and settled in a modest home on a small family farm just outside of Leonardtown. They had four children: Veronica, Dan, David, and Dorothy. It was during these early years that Cookie exhibited a zest for travel, purchasing a small yellow camper that the family used for a trip to Disney World in Orlando, among other stops. After her first marriage ended, Cookie met and married the love of her life, Russell Lee Clement. Russ was an accomplished Naval aviator, with a record of outstanding achievement, beginning with a deployment to an aircraft carrier group during the Cuban Blockade. This was a second marriage for both, and Russ brought his children into Cookie’s life: Russell Lee Clement, II and Carrie Anne Clement. Russ and Cookie both loved sailing, and when Russ retired with the rank of Commander from the Navy, they purchased a sailboat (Windguesser II), which they sailed from San Diego to Jacksonville, Florida, through the Panama Canal. In Jacksonville, Russ and two partners founded World Wide Yachting Enterprises, a sailing and marine navigation school. Eventually, Russ and Cookie bought out the partners and became sole owners. They also purchased a 44’ Wellington sailboat hull and began construction on the boat (Chubasco II) “from the hull up”. They purchased a waterfront lot in Apollo Beach, Florida, and lived on the partially constructed sailboat while building their house. They spent their first 20 “traveling years” on Chubasco II, plying the waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Maryland.  After a challenging encounter with “The Pier” at the St. Petersburg waterfront, during an unexpected squall, they sold the boat and purchased a fifth wheel RV for travel. Their six children, ten grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren scattered throughout the country, provided plenty of places to visit. During this time, they visited 49 States (there being no bridge to Hawaii) and spent two months in Europe traveling by rental car. Cookie and Russ enjoyed rural America which led them to make frequent trips to Nebraska, where Russ was born and raised. They would visit regularly to reconnect with friends and relatives in Farnam and other parts of Nebraska, finally purchasing a small bungalow in Minden, NE to serve as home base. In 2023, they moved to Maryland to be closer to family. Cookie is preceded in death by Russ, who passed away in February. Cookie is survived by her children: Veronica (Jamie) Billig of Leonardtown, MD; Daniel (Jennifer) Guy, of Clarksville, MD; David Guy of Leonardtown, MD; Dorothy (Tom) Patterson of Laurel, MD; Carrie Clement (Michael Denny) of North Wales, PA; and Russell Lee Clement II of Dade City, FL; grandchildren: Adam, Amber, Brady, Daniel, Jordan, Julie, Kevin, Matt, Ryan, Shelby and Tanner, and great-grandchildren: AJ, Amelia, Arya, Audrey, Camden, Charlie, Dakota, Hattie, and Harper. Cookie will be missed by all. In memory of Cookie and Russ, the family asks that you embrace the outdoors, love those around you, and always opt for kindness and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to organizations that support veterans or the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.