Dr. Myrtle Stafford Clark
Dr. Myrtle Elizabeth Stafford Clark died April 5 at the age of 75.
Funeral services were held Friday at the First Baptist Church in Waco
with the Rev. George Harrison officiating. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery
in Gatesville.
Myrtle Elizabeth Stafford Clark was born Feb. 2, 1924, in Italy, Texas, to
the late William H. and Bessie Lee Stafford. She attended public school in
Italy through the eighth grade and continued her education at A.J. Moore
High School in Waco, graduating in 1940. This was only the beginning of a
long journey in pursuit of degrees and certificates in higher education. Dr.
Clark earned degrees from Huston-Tillotson College, Austin; Syracuse University,
Syracuse, NY; California Lutheran College, Los Angeles, CA; and
Baylor University, Waco.
Dr. Clark's distinguished professional career, primarily in the area of curriculum
and instruction, was centered on elementary students. As an administrator,
she focused on programs designed to assist young people to achieve
greater academic advantages through gaining proficiency in reading skills.
Dr. Clark's various contributions to the field of knowledge in education
included important essays on education and teaching the linguistically divergent
child.
Myrtle Clark, an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, loved
people and exemplified the concept of service to mankind.
Dr. Clark was united in holy matrimony to J.D. Clark of Los Angeles,
CA. J.D. Clark preceded her in death with no children born to this union.
This dedicated and honored educator and public servant is survived by a
brother and sister-in-law, George H. Stafford and wife, Eula; cousins, Clarence
Barrens and wife Jennelle, Grady Barrens and wife Dorothy of Tulsa, OK,
and Theresa Smith and husband Cecil of Gatesville; three nephews, Robert
Stafford of Redmond, WA, Patrick Stafford of Atlanta, GA, and Paul Stafford
of Arlington; four nieces, Sharon Tisdell of Prairie View, Pamela Hass of
Bryan, Lisa Stafford of Dallas and Gwendolyn McWilliams of Fort Worth;
and a host of other relatives and friends.
Throughout her life, Myrtle Elizabeth Stafford Clark displayed a high
intellect and a dedicated call to service. The world is a better place because
she lived in it.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made
to the B.L. Stafford Scholarship Fund, c/o The Stafford Foundation,
P.O Box 428, Prairie View, TX 77446.