Mary Lou Clark

Mary Lou Williams was born in her doctor's office in the small farming town of Firebaugh, California, January 18, 1949. She was the fifth child and first daughter of her beloved father and mother Jim and Maereen Williams. Her four older brothers are Jimmie and wife Nancy, Charles and wife Lois, Dennis and wife Sonia, and John and wife Margie. Carol Baskin and husband Richard is her "little sister".

She married Tim Clark, June 12, 1970 and lovingly joined Tim's family as their first daughter, as well. She is survived by her husband Tim, her children Kelly Holt, husband David, and grandson Jonah (3); her daughter Kerry Clark and grandson Isaac (1); and her daughter Katie Doherty, husband Alan, and grandchildren Ashling (4) and Finn (2).

Mary Lou revered her parents for their welcoming and hospitable outlook on life and their family and friends. She loved their strength of character and nurturing patience. They taught her responsibility and ethics. As a child she had household chores such as sewing, ironing, tending to meals, and churning butter from their small farm, dairy cow on Saturday mornings. As a teenager she helped her Aunt Ruthie's catering events and chopped cotton in the summers.

Firebaugh had no high school in 1963, so Mary Lou was bussed to the nearby town of Dos Palos as a freshman. She met her future husband and companion of 54 years, Tim Clark, in Spanish class. Tim was charmed by her warm and outgoing personality. They began dating by the end of that first semester. Mary Lou was a very welcome acquaintance to the Joe and Bobbie Clark household especially when she brought chocolate chip cookies, and then later as their first daughter.

Now married, Mary Lou and Tim graduated from Fresno State University in June, 1971. They moved to Long Beach where Tim continued his education at Long Beach State. Mary Lou continued training to become a high school business teacher. She student taught at Norwalk High School before deferring that career path to become a full-time mom while her children were young.

Mary Lou loved visiting lakes, and water and snow skiing while living in Fresno. She and Tim would visit Yosemite National Park to study for finals. She loved Long Beach for its ocean and moderate climate. Her favorite vacation spots were near lakes and the ocean - Catalina Island, where she cherished her spot on the beach and watching her children and their friends play in the ocean and the sand. She loved taking her family to Mammoth Mountain and Big Bear Lake in October and for skiing.

By far, her fondest legacy is the loving immediate family she built with Tim and the extended family of her siblings, her children's friends, lifetime friends, and the St. Joseph Parish Community. She welcomed everyone with a warm and open heart and lavished them with hospitality. She loved her family with every ounce of her being and she knew we felt the same of her. She did all she could to ensure that her grandchildren were under the constant care and nurturing of a close family member. Our faith tells us, she still does.

In lieu of flowers, please remember Mary Lou through donations to St. Joseph Catholic Church with memo "Movement for a Better World" or to the American Cancer Society.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401