Willistene Ivy Clark

Heaven has gained an angel. Willistene Ivy Clark shed her earthly body, took the hand of Jesus, received her angel wings, and flew to Heaven on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

She began her earthly journey on December 13, 1925 in Estico, Arkansas. She was the second of nine children born to Jim and Maude Lemons Ivy.

Willistene grew up during the Great Depression. As one of the older children in a family of sharecroppers, she learned early in life the value of hard work and respect for the things God had blessed her with. She would often share stories of her childhood. Stories of saving flour sacks to make a prized new dress, or to stitch into a much needed quilt. She would talk of working in the gardens and caring for the livestock that it took to feed the large family. She told of rising early on snow covered mornings to milk the cow, gather the eggs, and chop wood before coming in to help prepare breakfast. Then it was walking to school with the younger children in tow. Her evenings were filled with doing chores, helping prepare the evening meal, and doing homework by a coal oil lamp.

She came of age during World War II. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized at the age of 16. During that time, she and her family relocated to California and settled in the San Bernardino area. She found work in the citrus industry, packing oranges and grapefruit. She told of carrying tomato sandwiches for lunch and saving ration stamps to get something special.

Only July 30, 1946 she married Paul Clark and together they raised five children. She continued to work in the fruit packing houses and spent her time at home cooking, cleaning, and sewing for her growing family.

In 1968 she and her husband relocated the family back to their home state of Arkansas, and made their home in Donaldson. Willistene put her sewing talent to good use by finding employment with Levi Strauss in Arkadelphia. She worked in the pants factory until 1984 when she retired to care for her ailing husband. After he passed away in 1988, she went back to work in the hotel industry in Caddo Valley, until her final retirement in 1997.

She was famous among her family and friends for her sewing and cooking. She was a lover of animals of all kinds. She always had cats and dogs, but it was never a surprise to see chickens, ducks, goats, or even a pot belly pig roaming her backyard.

She had a green thumb and a love of growing things, which was evident to anyone who drove by her house and saw her vegetable garden or any of the beautiful flowers that adorned her yard. Although she was not a social butterfly, she loved people, especially children. Her door was always open and there was always room for one more at her table.

She was welcomed at Heaven’s Gates by her parents; husband; sisters: Marie Pate, Velma Robbins, and Jean Loften; her brothers: Curtis Ivy and Cletus Ivy; and her grandchildren: Robert Hisey and Kathy Patton.

Those left behind to cherish her memory and carry on her legacy are her children: Betty Perez and her husband Gilbert of Marino Valley, California, Vernon Clark and his wife, Sue of Brown Springs, Louise Davis and her husband Ronnie of Raleigh, North Carolina, Bernice Bashaw and her husband Ronnie of Donaldson, and Brenda Patton and her husband Brian of Arkadelphia; her grandchildren: Sonny Hisey, Gilbert Perez Jr, Evelyn Perez, Stewart and Myron Clark, Nick, Chris, and Courtney Lowe, Amanda Outcalt, Devan Simpson, Leanne Thomason, Jamie Gilbert, Justin Sandage, Christina Dupree, and Brian Patton, 25 great grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren; her sisters: Norma Atkins, Peggy Greenslate; and her brother Cleo Ivy. She also leaves behind her two beloved dogs, Cricket and Pepper, and a host of nieces, nephews and other family members and friends.

Visitation will be at Atkinson Funeral Home Chapel in Malvern on Sunday, August 11th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held in the Chapel of Atkinson Funeral Home on Monday, August 12th at 10:00 am.

Her nephew, Brother Eric Ivy and friend, Brother Ronnie Hardin will officiate the service. Her earthly body will be laid to rest beside her husband at the Ouachita Cemetery in Donaldson.

Those who will have the honor of carrying her on her last journey on this Earth will be Alex Stafford, Joshua Thomason, Jerry Sweitzer, Kelly Gilbert, Justin Sandage, and Nicholas Garay. Her honorary carriers will be Michael Garay, Darrin Ivy, Aaron Ivy, Brian Patton, and Sonny Hisey. She will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her. Spread your wings and fly high, Momma. We will carry your memory in our hearts until we meet again.