Pauline Gorrell Lena Starke Clingerwas born on March 8, 1882, to Return Jefferson Starke and Mary Poage in Rich Hill, Missouri, before the family moved from Bates County, Missouri, to St. Louis on August 17, 1898. She worked at 314 Continental Bank Building at 4th and Olive in 1902 and then at Continental Co. at Spruce and 4th keeping books from November to December of 1903. On June 22, 1907, Gorrell married Harry F. Clinger from Indiana, and they resided on Burd Ave. until 1918, when they moved to St. Joseph, Michigan. The couple moved back to St. Louis in 1922. In 1932, the couple moved with Gorrell's brother Bruce and her mother Mary Poage Starke to 323 Clara Ave., where she lived before moving to the Carrie Elligson Geitner Home at 5000 S. Broadway in 1962.

While living in St. Louis and in St. Joseph, Gorrell was active in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Young People’s Branch of the Methodist Church, acting as secretary in both St. Louis and St. Joseph and as treasurer in St. Louis. In St. Joseph during World War I, Gorrell was active in the Michigan War Motor Corp until it disbanded in 1919. An avid golfer, Gorrell attended the 1922 Golf Tournament held at Glen Echo Country Club. Throughout the 1920s, Gorrell continued to stay active in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union as well as other organizations, such as Kingdom House. Gorrell was very active with Cabanne Methodist Church (now World Overcomers Christian Center Fellowship) where she was on the Board of Stewards, Treasurer of the Women’s Society of Christian Service, until 1959. She also wrote a column, “Open Door” for the “Around the World with Mrs. Clinger,” in the Cabanne Church paper.

In 1936, Gorrell and Harry leased a building at 314 DeBaliviere that they named Mary Poage Inc. and ran a Busy Bee Store until 1948. The store was then run as C and O Catering Company for a few months before filing for bankruptcy.

Gorrell Starke Clinger died on January 27, 1966, of heart disease in St Louis, Missouri.

Harry F. Clinger was born in Indiana on November 2, 1881, and married Gorrell Starke in 1907. An accountant, he worked for Cole Brothers until 1917. Harry worked for Busy Bee until 1940 before starting C and O catering Company with a Mr. Oberstein in 1948. He eventually retired from Fred P Rapp Inc. Grocery as an auditor in 1958 after 14 years. Harry Clinger died April 7, 1970.

Lelia Starke is the older sister of Gorrell and was born on March 10, 1876. She married Lee Hall on June 18, 1906. In 1963, Lee and Lelia moved in with Harry and Gorrell. Lelia died August 27, 1964, in California.