Bonnie Lou Clark

In Memory and Reflection of Bonnie Lou Clark
December 11th 1933 – May 22nd 2014

Bonnie Lou Clark was born on December 11th 1933 in Hood River, OR to Newton and Hallie Clark. She has one brother, Newton Clark III who was younger than she. Her father was a Civil Engineer in the US Army Corps of Engineers and her namesake came from his work as the lead engineer and designer on the Bonneville Dam project.

Bonnie attended grade school in Cascade Locks, WA and from there her family moved to Hood Canal, the Mt. Baker district of Seattle and finally settled in Three Tree Point in Burien. Throughout her school years, she made lifetime friends in her Blue Bird and Campfire Girls Troops. She graduated from Highline High School in 1952.

Bonnie began college at the University of Washington to study nursing. She left the UW prior to graduation and worked at various jobs, including local ski manufacturer Anderson and Thompson. Bonnie loved skiing and at one time was dating the captain of the UW ski team. She was also a charter member of the venerable Ski Club. Bonnie would tell you her skiing talents were limited to snow plow, traverse, sit, turn and begin again! During this time in her life, she began dating a fellow named Richard (Dick) Clark. After what she has described as a true romance, he proposed and they were married on May 25th 1957. Her three children were born soon after; Ed 1958, Linda 1960 and Doug in 1962.

During the first few years of marriage, she worked part time as an LPN and was of course, a full time mom. Her husband traveled extensively for his job so Bonnie made sure her children had plenty of fun filled adventures including picnics, swimming at the local lakes and lots of creative activities both indoor and out. In 1968, Bonnie went back to college to earn her degree in nursing. She graduated Shoreline Community College in 1970 with almost a perfect GPA and went on to take and pass her state nursing exam to become a Registered Nurse.

Her RN career began at a Queen Anne nursing home, and then found her calling as a pediatric nurse. Her most notable position was with Dr. Dianna Tattoni in Kirkland, WA at Lakeshore Clinic and she finished her career as a charge nurse at Virginia Mason, Seattle.

In 1966, Bonnie and her husband purchased the home where she lived for 48 years. This home quickly became the central meeting place for family on both sides. Over the years, this home became refuge for all, including her children, her children’s friends and anyone who needed sanctuary. All were welcome. She was “Mom” to many, many people.

Bonnie’s husband was a little league coach for both football and baseball. She quickly became the team mom to many young men, and formed life-long friendships with the families whose children played on the teams. She would often find herself hosting team meetings and meals with little notice and did so with joy and a smile! These were busy and fun years for her. She lost her husband to heart failure in 1976 and went on to raise three children on her own. Her courage and strength in the wake of this loss was unwavering. Bonnie faced further hardships with the loss of her own Mother and Father within a 22 month period surrounding her husband’s death. Her determined spirit, unconditional love, grace and faith in our Lord, helped her to carry on with life as a single parent.

During the course of her life, Bonnie had many interests. Garden Club, singing in Sweet Adeline’s for many years, travel abroad, creative arts and crafts, board games, animals, acting in the play The Music Man, yoga, bible study and any adventure that stirred her. She was a tremendous business woman and began a second career as an antiques dealer. She loved the “hunt” and “find” of her pieces, but mostly loved the history and stories behind them. Antiques gave way to her love of history and she delved into becoming the family historian and genealogist. This endeavor took her down many intriguing pathways and adventures of discovery. Her research was exhaustive and extensive.

Bonnie would tell you that her life was blessed because of her lifelong faith in our Lord. Her greatest passion was serving God, and thereby serving all. She joined the Overlake Park Presbyterian church about 16 years ago. There, she worked tirelessly for the Mission programs such as Women in Black, the Homeless, Global Peace and Justice Committee, Stephen Ministry, Church Deacon, Afternoon Women’s Circle, Bible Studies, Seattle Presbytery and the Mission Deputation Team to New Orleans to aide with rebuilding in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. The Katrina Mission was especially significant as her grandson Rick joined her in this endeavor!

Bonnie’s greatest joy came from her family. She was a mother of three, grandmother to four, and great-grandmother to three. She never missed an opportunity to attend a school or sporting event. She was the biggest cheerleader, and the loudest! Her love, hugs, kindness, compassion, understanding, humor and grace were unconditional and free flowing without end.

Bonnie is survived by her children Ed (wife Casey), Linda (husband Mike) and Doug (wife Barbara). Also, by her grandchildren James (wife Sarah), Rick, Christopher (wife Caitlin), Stephanie and her great-grandchildren, Lennox, Pacey and newborn Indiana.

People such as Bonnie Clark come into our lives and leave a legacy that is so bright is almost hurts to look directly at her light. To say this amazing Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and friend will be missed is an understatement of epic proportion. God has called His most humble servant home and we thank Him for her presence in our lives.

There will be a Memorial Service this Saturday June 7th, 2014 at 1 pm, at Overlake Park Presbyterian Church, 1836 156th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98007 (On the corner of 156th Avenue NE & Northup Way).  All are welcome.

Please help carry on her faith and legacy by making a contribution to the Overlake Park Presbyterian Mission Fund.