Frances Juanita Clark

Frances Juanita (Smith) Clark passed away on November 8, 2010 at 5:40 am with her children at her bedside. She joined her beloved husband, Merl Eugene Clark, who preceded her in death. Frances leaves behind her son, Daniel (Kay) Clark of Lawrenceburg, KY, and her daughter, Frances Debra (Don) Mills of Indianola, IL. She was dearly loved by her grandchildren; Jason (Trinket) Clark, Dusten (Jennifer) Clark, Francie (Nick) Stokes, Danica (Jim) Hartle, Colby Clark, & Morgan Clark, and her great-grandchildren; Cassidy, Colton, Kyle, Madisyn, Alex, Bailey, Cydney, and Owen & Tessa. Mrs. Clark was born to Millard & Pierce (Hawley) Smith on August 14, 1922 in Hiwassee, VA. She was raised in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia which she dearly loved. She was the oldest girl in a family of eleven. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as, her sisters, Jewel Roop, Peggy Lewis & Esther ODell, sisters-in-law, Jane Smith and Joyce Smith, a brother-in-law, Jack Martin, and several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brothers (Guy, Rabie, Dickie, Manual, Billy Ray, Arnold Dale) and a sister (Mildred Lee Smith). During the World War II she worked at the Radford Ammunition plant and later met a daring young sailor that became her husband. Frances was a Navy wife for 20-years which required traveling the country and raising her children by herself for long periods of time while her husband, Merl, was out to sea. After their retirement from the Navy, Frances and Merl moved to Virginia where they established a neighborhood store in Dublin, Virginia. Frances also graduated from Miss Vis Beauty School in Pulaski, Virginia and proceeded to work there after her graduation. Later, Frances & Merl established Clarks Hearing Aid Service in Danville, Illinois where it remained an established business for over 20-years. Frances & Merl also owned and operated Clarks Insulation Service for several years. Frances was a hard worker, an immaculate homemaker, a tender mother and a fantastic grandmother. She was known as Mammy to her great-grandchildren and she was integral part of their lives. She was loved by her family, and she will be missed. Her spirit lives on through them. A celebration of Frances life will be held at 10:00am, Friday, November 12, 2010, at Sunsets Houghton-Leasure Funeral Chapel, A Life Celebration Home, 200 E West St, Georgetown. Visitation will be 6pm-8pm, Thursday, November 11, 2010, at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest in Hoult Cemetery, Chrisman.