Melisha Ellen Clark was born February 10, 1914, to John Oscar and Sarah Frances Dillon Howard, in the Hope Community of Oklahoma, and passed from this life February 12, 2005, in Duncan, Oklahoma, at the age of ninety-one.
She married Jim Klingensmith in 1943. He preceded her in death in 1966. She lived most of her adult life in Oregon, New Mexico, and Arizona.
She was a retired bookkeeper from Cake Chevrolet in Winslow, Arizona. She returned to Duncan, Oklahoma, in 1976, to care for her mother. Ellen and Gilford Clark were united in marriage in 1989, in Duncan. She was a member of Stephens United Methodist Church in Duncan and a member of the DAV Auxiliary. She was a member of United Methodist Women as well as Church Women United, where was involved with the toy shop. She was very active as a volunteer at the Duncan Senior Citizens Nutrition Center.
Survivors include: one step-son - Royce Clark and his wife Juanita of Duncan, OK; two step-grandchildren - Sara Clark and Wayne Clark; one sister - Berneice Alexander of Mereno Valley, CA; six brothers and their spouses - Rev. W.M. Howard and Evelyn, Hurschal Howard and Carolyn, Rev. Ray Howard and Juanita, all of Marlow, OK, Robert Howard and Carelene of Mustang, OK, Rev. J.O. Howard and Helen, Kenneth Howard and Margaret, all of Lawton, OK; two sister-in-law - Annette Blankenship of Burkburnett, TX, and Flora Howard of Marlow,OK; two brothers-in-law Huey Dixon of Ardmore, OK, and Troy Coker of Duncan, OK; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters, Katherine Coker, Lenora Snider, and Joyce Howard, and two brothers, Everett Howard and J.I. Howard.
Funeral services for Mrs. Clark were at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, February 15, 2005, at Stephens United Methodist Church in Duncan, with Rev. J.O. Howard and Rev. Ruth Atterbury officating. Burial was in the Resthaven Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Comanche. Pallbearers were Wayne Clark, Stephen Snider, Bobby Ramirez, Terry Snider, Grover Lee Snider, and Jack Gregston.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Stephens United Methodist Church in Duncan.