Lois J. Clark

Lois Jean (Burton) Clark, age 80, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2024 in Toledo, Ohio. She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Larry, as well as her parents.

Jean was born on November 16, 1943 in Rolla, Missouri to Clyde Burton and Loretta (Howell) Burton. She fondly recalled growing up in the close-knit community of St. James, Missouri with her four siblings and many cousins living nearby. An excellent student and athlete, Jean graduated as salutatorian from John F. Hodge High School in 1961 and subsequently attended the University of Missouri at Columbia. After earning her bachelor’s degree in education in 1965, Jean moved to Battle Creek, Michigan where she began her teaching career and met her future husband, Larry Clark. She and Larry married on June 17, 1966 and settled permanently in Caro, Michigan in 1971.

Throughout her career, Jean instructed both social studies and English classes at the junior high and high school levels. Her passion, though, was teaching high school English. Her enthusiasm for English language and literature and her energetic, engaging teaching style inspired hundreds of students over five decades. She was a beloved instructor as well as coworker at Caro High School, serving as English department chair for many years. She received the Crystal Apple Award for excellence in education and coached the English academic games teams to multiple championships. Jean retired from Caro Community Schools in 2005 in anticipation of her grandchild’s birth that fall.

Jean was a member of the Caro United Methodist Church. She enjoyed traveling, especially theater and shopping trips to New York City, Disney World vacations, and visiting the redwood forests of Northern California. She and Larry were faithful fans of the Michigan Wolverines and attended every home game at the Big House for many seasons. In her later years, Jean thoroughly enjoyed watching her backyard birds and wildlife and listening to Elvis songs, as a lifelong fan of his music.

As much as she enjoyed teaching, Jean’s true love was her family. School breaks and holidays were often spent in Missouri and she maintained close connections with her family members throughout her life. She particularly enjoyed shopping trips to St. Louis and Cardinals ball games with her siblings as well as the annual family reunion in May.

Jean was a loving and involved parent and grandparent and the arrival of her granddaughter was one of the great joys of her life. She was generous with her time and attention and truly enjoyed being a grandma.

Jean will be warmly remembered for her thoughtful and generous spirit, lively sense of humor, and fierce competitiveness when it came to sports, particularly St. Louis Cardinals baseball and Michigan football. She will be deeply missed by the many people who loved her.

In addition to her husband and parents, Jean was preceded in death by her parents-in-law, Bob and Midge Clark; brothers-in-law, Mike Derryberry and Charles Mayberry; and sister-in-law, Louise Clark. She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer (Mike) Doughty; granddaughter, Annabel Doughty; brother, Harold (Jo) Burton; sisters, Kay Mayberry, Shirley Derryberry, and Bonnie (Kevin) Taylor; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the wonderful caregivers and staff of The Grove at Oakleaf Village and to Ohio Living Hospice for the loving and compassionate care they provided.

In keeping with Jean’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Those wishing to donate in her memory are asked to consider the Ohio Living Foundation or the Bird Center of Michigan.