Montie Clem

Montie Lee (Hartsell) Clem, a North Carolina native, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, Nov. 16, 2025, at her home in Frederick, Md. Her death at age 93 was from natural causes.

Born Dec. 6, 1931, in Stanly County, N.C., she was the only child of James Ellis and Dora Ann Treece Hartsell, and the beloved wife of the late Rev. Joseph H. Clem, who predeceased her in 1993. The couple met while attending Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C., and married following their graduation in 1954.

A member of the Endy High School Class of 1950, Montie earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Catawba College, then began her career in Lancaster, Pa., where she taught from 1954 to 1957 while her husband attended Seminary. She loved primary education, so after raising her family she returned to teaching in Frederick County, Md., public schools from 1967 to 1992. During that time, she received a master’s degree from Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, W.Va.

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

Montie enjoyed travel. In retirement she visited 44 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.

Throughout her life Montie remained a loyal supporter of her alma mater as a member of the Catawba College True Blue Society. She also belonged to the Frederick County Retired School Personnel Association, Maryland Retired School Personnel Association, and the Frederick Memorial Hospital Select Club.

A graveside service will be held at Pine Grove Methodist Church Cemetery, Albemarle, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 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 Pine Grove Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 28766 NC 24/27 Highway, Albemarle, NC, 28001, or The Catawba Fund at Catawba College, 2300 West Innes St., Salisbury, NC, 28144.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Clem family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com