Jean S. Clark

Jean S. Clark of Lake Wales, FL passed away peacefully Monday, July 5, 2010 at her residence, her family was present.

She was born April 28, 1921 in Moore Haven, FL to the late Sion & Gladys Stalls; she was the first woman born in Glades County, once it became a county. She survived the 1926 hurricane with her family in the attic of their small house; water came within inches of the ceiling before receding. She is a direct descendent of Daniel Boone. She was married to John D. Clark, Jr. in 1943 and came to Polk County from Moore Haven in 1944. She began her teaching career in Ortona, FL in a one room schoolhouse with eight grades and a wood stove for heat. She was a retired elementary school teacher for the Polk County School Board and spent most of her career at Spook Hill and Polk Avenue Elementary Schools. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales and enjoyed family times, weekends at the beach, jigsaw puzzles, playing the piano and summers at the family cabin in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, John D. Clark, Jr on May 1, 2006. Survivors include her daughter, Terrie L. Poole (husband, Thomas) of Bonifay, FL; sons, John D. Clark III of Sebring, FL and Robert S. Clark (fiancée, Deborah Blanton) of Lake Wales, FL; sisters, Betty Adkins of Lakeland, FL and Peggy Wilkinson of Virginia Beach, VA; brother, Sonny Stalls of Lake Placid, FL; 5 grandchildren, Aaron, Lauren, Michael, Jason and Ashley; and 3 great-grandchildren, Clayton, Nolan and Kendall.

A private family graveside service will be held at the Lake Wales Cemetery.