Kansas Elizabeth Garland Clark

Published 9:19 am Wednesday, November 4, 2015

“A virtuous woman is without price or value. A virtuous woman is one in whom her husband does trust. A virtuous woman cares for her family. A virtuous woman is generous to all. From the heart of a virtuous woman, her children will find wisdom to last them through the years. Her children shall rise up and call her blessed.”
Kansas Elizabeth Garland Clark, 88, of Hampton, Christian, faithful wife, loving mother, precious grandmother and friend, went home to be with her Lord, Tuesday, November 3, 2015, at Ivy Hall Nursing Home. She was born April 8, 1927 to the late Ezekiel and Myrtle Graybeal Garland in Washington County, Tenn.
Mrs. Clark was a 1945 graduate of Science Hill High School. She had lived most of her life in Carter County. She enjoyed cooking for family and attending her church at Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church and the Young at Heart Sunday School Ladies Class. She was an avid sports fan, loved to travel, take photographs and she worked as a homemaker and at Watson’s/Peebles for many years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Robert F. Garland and wife Tommie Sue; two infant sisters; a sister, Ida Kelly and husband Richard; and a brother-in-law, Robert Clark.
Kansas was faithfully married to Byrl Lester Clark Sr. for 68 years. Their Godly love and devotion to one another is a legacy cherished by all who love them.
Other survivors include her children, Linda Abel and husband Larry, Johnson City, Byrl Lester Clark Jr. and Jeff Clark and wife Linda, all of Hampton; her grandchildren, Larry Abel Jr., Deanna Abel Johnson, Chris Clark and fiancée Jessica Soerensen, Joy Abel Scalf, Amanda Clark, Gina Reynolds, Jamie Chapple, Chrissy Ghent and Jessica Clark; her great-grandchildren, Kelsey Johnson, Keaton Johnson and Maura Trice and husband Tim; her great-great-grandchildren, Eddie and Gabby Trice and Beckett Clark; and several nephews.
A celebration of life for Kansas Clark will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 5, at Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. Randy Johnson and the Rev. Mark Potter officiating. Music will be provided by the Praise Choir and granddaughter, Joy Abel Scalf. The graveside service and interment will be at 11 a.m. Friday, November 6, in the Berry Cemetery, Hampton, with the Rev. Terry Abel officiating. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church at 6:50 p.m. Thursday and also at the funeral home at 10:15 a.m. Friday, will be Larry Abel Jr., Chris Clark, Richard Kelly, Tim Kelly, Kevin Kelly, Les McKinney, Brad Clark and Bruce Clark. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Abel Sr., Jamie Chapple, Ray “Candy Man” Franklin, Jay and Rose Walsh, the Young at Heart Ladies Sunday School Class and Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to Judy Deloach and the staff of Ivy Hall Nursing Home, her God-send caregivers, special friend, Pauline McKinney, and Chaplin Gary Pate. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church. Friends may also visit with the family at the residence of her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Larry Abel, 128 Ashlee Road (off Cedar Grove Road), Johnson City. To those who prefer memorials may be made in memory of Kansas to the Berry Cemetery Fund, % Byrl Clark, 1211 Simerly Creek Road, Hampton, TN 37658. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:15 a.m. Friday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website: www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Clark family.