Cloudy, 48° F
(July 2, 1928 - May 25, 2011)
Marvalene Clark died peacefully at home in Lovell. She was 82,
She was born to Lucy McCombs and Ray Stewart Thurman on July 2, 1928 in Grover. She was the 10th of eleven children.
When Marvalene was 10 years old, her mother died. A few years later, her father married Elda Hepworth and four more children were born into the family. Having her mother die at such a young age profoundly affected her. She learned at an early age the values of hard work, frugality and reaching out to those in need.
Marvalene was raised on the family dairy farm in Grover.
She met the love of her life, A. Paul Clark, in Star Valley. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Sept. 19, 1946. Paul, Marvalene, and family lived in Burley, Idaho, for five years, then moved to Lovell in December 1955.
Marvalene’s greatest service was raising 11 children on the family farm. She instilled in them the values of hard work, charity, humility, forgiveness, practicality, and many other Christ-like qualities.
They were involved in dairy farming and farming until Paul’s death on March 9, 2007. Marvalene continued to live on the farm west of Lovell until her death.
Marvalene had a great love for Jesus Christ, and tried her best to serve him all the days of her life. She died as she was preparing to go out and visit fellow church members. She served in many positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Paul and Marvalene served a mission together in the Arizona-Phoenix Mission in 1995. They also served together six years in the Billings Temple.
Her family takes comfort knowing she is now reunited with her beloved husband, daughter, parents, and other family members.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; daughter, Mary; her parents; her sisters, Reita, Nellie, Ruth, Helen, Lucille and Florence; brothers Stewart and Ray M.; and three grandchildren, Lori Ann Cruz, Joselyn Clark, and Wesley Clark.
Marvalene is survived by her children David (Sherell) of Colstrip, Mont., Louise (Richard) Brower of Union City, Calif., Karen (Stanley) LeCheminant of Chester, Idaho, Janice (Michael) Rausch of Roy, Utah, Evelyn (Roger) Belles of Oviedo, Fla., Allan (Cindy) of Byron, Spencer (Terri) of Ladson, S.C., JoAnn (Scott) York of Sterling, Va., Grant (Terri Lynn) of Cheyenne, and Gregory (Lonnie) of Powell; son-in-law Johnny Stock of San Diego, Calif.; 57 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers Byron of Alpine, Utah, and Douglas (Carolyn) of Annabella, Utah; sisters Joyce (Don) Ashcraft of Ogden, Utah, LuVilla (Lester) Barber of Lehi, Utah, Rose (Blair) Wilkes of Tooele, Utah, and VerNene (Doug) New of West Valley City, Utah. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 31 at the LDS stake center in Lovell. Viewing will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will follow in the Lovell Cemetery.
Haskell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
