Susan Clark

Susan Elizabeth Vestring Clark, 64, of Tyler peacefully passed away Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston in the company of loved ones. Susan was born on April 30, 1948 in Wichita, Kansas to Joseph “Bus” and Mabel (Lovell) Vestring. During her very early years her family lived in several small Kansas towns while her father worked for Phillips Petroleum Company. Her family then moved to Olton, Texas where Susan started first grade. After a year in Olton her family moved to the small west Texas town of Goldsmith where she lived for the remainder of her childhood. She graduated from Odessa High School in 1966. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1970 from The University of North Texas where she met her husband, Benjamin Palmer Clark. Susan and Palmer were married on June 28, 1969 in Denton, Texas. After graduating from the University of North Texas, Susan and Palmer moved to Louisville, Kentucky where Palmer began his teaching career. While in Louisville they welcomed the birth of their first child, Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” in December of 1970. A desire to be closer to their families prompted a move to Tyler, Texas where their second child, Amy, was born in 1973. They made Tyler their home and raised their family, taught school and enjoyed retirement in Tyler as well. Susan was a beloved teacher known for her kindness, calm demeanor, and dedication to her students and fellow teachers. Susan began her teaching career in 1975 at Bullard High School where she taught classes including typing and shorthand for four years. She then moved to John Tyler High School where she taught primarily business and computer classes and was head of the Business Department. Susan continued her education and obtained her Master’s degree in Education at the University of Texas at Tyler in 1979. Susan was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a society of women educators and enjoyed writing their newsletter for many years. Susan retired from Tyler Independent School District in 2002 after 27 years of teaching. Susan was born and raised in the Catholic faith and was a devoted member of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Tyler where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. Her faith was also demonstrated through her generous works serving her family, friends and community. Susan volunteered for the Salvation Army and was a member of the Woman’s Society. Susan was devoted to her family and friends and was known to always put others before herself. Her personal interests included a love of nature, animals and bird-watching, gardening, cooking, reading, and watching movies. However her favorite pastime in life was helping others. She was known as “Nana” to her five grandchildren and she thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them. Susan was loved for her kind, sweet,and cheerful personality, bringing joy to those around her. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Susan fought a brave battle with metastatic melanoma for over five years. Susan is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Mabel Vestring, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law Edgar Davis and Kathryn Clark. She is survived by her husband, Benjamin Palmer Clark of Tyler, her daughter Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Gay and husband Jason of Kingwood, TX; and her daughter Amy Turner and husband Sean of Lewisville, TX; sister Judy Davis and husband Don of Spring City, PA; brother Tim Vestring and wife Cheryl of Canon City, CO; sister Sharon Massey of Odessa, TX; brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Shari Clark of Cleburne, TX; grandchildren Madeline, Marissa, and Andrew Gay of Kingwood, TX; Kylie and Ashlyn Wilbanks of Lewisville, TX, many nieces and nephews, as well as dear friends in Tyler, TX. Visitation is scheduled from 5:00-6:00 PM, Sunday, September 30, 2012 at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler with a Rosary to begin at 6:00 PM in the chapel of the funeral home. A funeral mass will be held Monday, October 1, 2012 at 10:00 AM at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Church in Tyler. A graveside service will be held at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Carthage at 1:00 PM under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.

Susan Clark

April 30, 1948 - September 26, 2012