JEAN CLARK

1913 - 2010

Jean Catherine Clark (nee Neil), beloved wife of the late Raymond Clark, was called home by her Lord and Saviour on Saturday, November 27, 2010 at the age of 97 years.
Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Christian Community Church, Burdett on Saturday, December 4, 2010 between 11:30 A.M. and 12:30 P.M. ONLY.
A private family burial service will follow at the Burdett Cemetery prior to the memorial service.
The Memorial Service will be held at the Christian Community Church, Burdett (follow 5th Avenue all the way west) on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Norman Smith officiating.
Jean is lovingly remembered by her daughters Audrey (David) White of Lethbridge and Elaine (Fred) Nordby of Red Deer; grandchildren Terry (Debby) Lane of Burdett, Natalie (Dale) Thacker of Bow Island, Donna (Cliff) Drader of Burdett, Robin (Sheila) Lane of Medicine Hat, Darcy (Lana) Lane of Burdett, Kirsten Nordby of New Westminster, British Columbia, Carla (Phil) Muir of Red Deer, Erik (Anita) Nordby of Vancouver and granddaughter-in-law Gail (Lee) Gibson of Burdett; twenty great grandchildren, fifteen great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband Raymond; parents James & Catherine Neil; grandson Dennis Lane; sisters Flora Hunter and Jenny Johnson; brother John Neil; sisters-in-law Helen Neil and Mildred Poole; brothers-in-law Harry Hunter, Johnny Johnson and William Poole.
Jean was born in Glasgow, Scotland on February 16, 1913. She grew up on a sheep ranch south of Burdett, attended the Burdett School and then went to Calgary Normal School where she received her teaching certificate. She returned to teach grades one to nine at Ballman School located ten miles south of Burdett. In 1934 she married Raymond Clark and moved to a sheep ranch on the north side of the Old Man River north of Grassy Lake. During this time, she gave had two daughters, Audrey and Elaine. In 1940 they bought some land northwest of Burdett and switched from sheep ranching to cattle ranching with some farmland. They built a new home in Burdett in 1954 which she still maintained as her home though she had been a resident of the Bow Island Auxiliary Hospital for the past two years. In 1957 Jean was stricken with polio but through hard work and determination she managed to get back on her feet and continue her life.
She was always actively involved in her community and often worked behind the scenes with her husband Raymond. She was pianist at the Burdett United Church and the Evangelical Free Church in Bow Island for many years; she was the C.G.I.T. leader in Burdett; was active in the Burdett W.I.; she designed the kitchen at the Burdett Centennial Hall and helped with catering meals there. She always opened her home for meetings and community birthday parties and we will always remember Jean's love of games. One never left her house without a game of clue, smear, rummikub or whatever was the latest fad. One never left without a cup of tea and an assortment of cookies, baked by her caregiver and best friend Diana, who has looked after Jean for the past twelve years. Jean's great great grandchildren nicknamed her "the cookie grandma".
Her family, friends and community will have fond memories of her poetry and music which she continually used to praise her Lord and Saviour. She is now home with Him and free from all her pain.
If friends so desire in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes in Jean’s name may be made directly to the “Trees of Hope” Campaign (cheques payable to Trees of Hope Campaign Bow Island), in care of Bow Island Health Centre, Bag 3990, Bow Island, Alberta T0K 0G0 or to the Burdett Community Cemetery Fund, in care of Dorothy Thacker, Box 19, Burdett, Alberta T0K 0J0.