Dad

I love you, I love you, I love you…   We’ve had a wonderful life together; not many get to see their children, their grandchildren and even their great-grandchildren as we have.  I need you, I’ve always needed you…  but I’ll be alright.  You can go now, and I’ll be along soon, very soon.  Good-bye.  I love you.  After this farewell, Grandma went home to be with the Lord within the hour. 

Steve

There is not even a remote possibility that anyone has ever had a better Grandma than we were blessed and lucky to have. I will miss Grandma terribly for so many reasons I do not know where or how to begin. What I always admired about Grandma and really grew to treasure as I grew up was how refreshingly honest she was; for lack of a better term she was always so real.Grandma possessed everything a sports-crazy boy with four older brothers could ever want in a Grandma; her love of sports, her delicious meals, her persistence in attending our games, her sense-of-humor, and her generous heart. 

I couldn’t wait for Bonnie to meet Grandma when we started seriously dating. Grandma was also always popular amongst my friends for her sense-of-humor. How many teenage boys get to BRAG about their Grandma? I will never forget the time in a sixth grade AAU game when another parent apparently questioned my age (due to my height) with some of the other parents. Oops. Grandmas reply? “That’s my grandson and he is in the sixth grade!” Amazing! I feel like I could write all day about Grandma. She was truly the best. My eyes water every time I think about how much she will be missed. Love you Grandma!   

Jeff

The older I get, the more I value the trait of loyalty, especially loyalty toward family.  This is the trait I will always associate most closely with Grandma.  I always felt sorry for the person who criticized, called a foul on, or chose not to play one of her grand children.  There was guaranteed to be a quick and unfiltered remark from Grandma, as she was determined to support her own through thick and thin.  The support I have felt from Grandma my whole life is something that I know is uncommon, and I have no doubt that her and Grandpa's involvement in my life is a big part of why I value family above anything else.  

Nate

I know Grandma's applesauce will be mentioned several times through this tribute, but there is a reason for that. This is at its very essence how I will remember Grandma.  It was dependable just like Grandma.  You knew at every gathering that it'd be there. Grandma was one you could always rely on for anything. I loved watching how this reliability played out in her enviable relationship with Grandpa.  The applesauce was consistent and always exactly the same.  You never had to worry about a change with it.  Grandma was consistent in all that she did.  You always knew she would be honest and never beat around the bush. I absolutely loved how you never had to read between the lines with Grandma.  Often, she didn't even acknowledge (or care) that these lines exist!  Grandma always made more than enough applesauce so she could give some away. Although there are many wonderful stories of Grandma's careful conservation, I will always remember her more for how much she gave.  I'll never forget how she would once in a while send a massive care package to me at college.  She would spend so much time, effort, and money on this but would save a few cents by wrapping the cookies individually in old newspaper.  Grandma and Grandpa's legacy will be one of generosity.  Finally, Grandma always made the applesauce with love.  She didn't always have to say it, but just by being around her you could always feel her love. I will miss you tremendously Grandma! I look forward to our reunion in heaven where hopefully you have a jar waiting for me!  

Adam

This is a tribute to my Grandma Clark, who will be long remembered.  Grandma played many roles in this life and wore many hats well.  I remember her as an affectionate sister, a dedicated mother, a lovingly biased grandmother, a bleacher fixture, and an adoring wife.  

Grandma was a big part of my childhood. She showed up to so many of my ball games (hundreds, easily) that friends would ask about her if she missed one.  I fondly recall being banished to the basement in Garrett with my brothers until we had completed the assignment of watching Bedknobs and Broomsticks followed by The Grinch followed by at least 3 episodes of Lil Rascals (or 4 Laurel and Hardy episodes).  Then, and only then, could we climb up the steep shag-carpeted stairs to check whether our dinner of corn casserole, beanie weenies, jello with suspended fruit, baked beans with bacon on top, and of course applesauce was ready. And most of all I remember the exhilarating trips to the lake cottage for high speed boating, Grandma’s story-telling, cookouts, sparklers, and general horseplay.  The cottage was always the highlight of the summer.  

Even when she wasn’t around, Grandma was thinking about her grandchildren.  To help equip us for our long car rides, Grandma would send along such travel gifts as paper grocery bags full of pre-read comic strips, cookies individually wrapped in plastic, and audio recordings on cassette tape of her own voice reading children’s stories aloud, complete with her various character voices, numerous throat clearings, and giggles.  (Uncle Wiggly’s Adventures is the one that sticks with me).  

Grandma could be as stubborn as a mule - she changed her opinion about as often as her hairstyle - and she was absolutely convinced that she had the most gifted, best behaved, uniquely talented grandchildren in the world.  She could literally not understand why any of her grandchildren would ever spend time on the bench during a ballgame or why they weren’t cast as the lead in the school play.  And it was anyone’s guess as to the politics behind Jeff not being offered a full ride scholarship to play basketball for Duke and why Corey isn’t a famous recording star.

Grandma especially loved babies.  I often wondered what thoughts were running through her head as she held a new life in her arms; silently bonding with them.  The many pictures that show a tear in her eye suggest she was likely reminiscing about her own 6 babies she rocked so many years ago.

But as good a mother and grandmother as she was, she was an even better wife.  I’ll never forget the first time I saw my Grandma and Grandpa Clark kiss on the lips.  The image is forever burned into my head.   At first I thought it struck me as unusual because they were both so old.  But over time I came to realize what made it unusual was the uncommon love they share.  An undying love cultivated over time; crafted by pain and loss; bent by times of plenty and times of want; shaped by the sharing of countless memories, inside jokes, car trips, and giggles.  And did Grandma ever adore Grandpa.  Grandma told me on several occasions, “The truth is there are a lot of good mothers in this world, but a good father is very rare.  Earl is as good a father as I’ve ever seen.” In the last few years, Grandma’s body began to fail, but her cross-stitching never did.   Though it took her a little longer to climb down the bleachers, she kept showing up to the gym.  And though music was her passion, Grandma lost her ability to sing years ago.  It takes all my strength to hold back tears as I picture her now, in Heaven, rocking her babies, singing to Jesus, waiting on Grandpa.     

Ryan

Love has many different facets and expressions. If each facet of love was personified, faithfulness would be Grandma Clark. I have never met a more loyal, devoted person in my life. If Grandma was in your corner, you had an ally and a supporter no matter what. It didn’t matter if I missed ten shots in a row, Grandma would yell from the stands to pass me the ball so I could shoot again. And it wasn’t just for show. I remember watching Grandpa’s videos of basketball and baseball games and hearing Grandma talking in the background, unaware that her comments were being captured by the eternity of a camcorder, muttering that Coach Butt should get me in the game. Her loyalty will live on for eternity, not just in those sound bites, but in all of us she loved.

Paul

My grandma was caring, warm, concerned about me and my life, and devoted to all things about our family. She was a role model for all of us in how to raise and sustain a family. She loved the Lord and her faith in Christ was so evident as she prayed and talked about Him, most often through tears of joy. I know she prayed for me and all of the grandkids and the rest of her family. Her concern above all else was that we would love each other and God. 

But I am most thankful for my grandma that in her death, full of faith and loving Jesus Christ, drug my mother along with her on her way to the presence of Jesus. My grandma's death birthed my mom into the kingdom of Christ! Thank you, Grandma. What a gift!