Sarah Lou Clark

Beloved Friend, Neighbor, Classmate, Co-Worker, Companion, Leader, Mentor and Mom Sarah Lou Clark passed on May 27th, 2024 at her home in Nowata. Born August 27, 1939 in Rogers, AR., she was the only child of Ester Lee McClure and Guy Carter. A lifelong love of animals, especially dogs, Sarah was active in a wide range of groups from Girl Scouts to Sub Debs, and activities from Ballet and Swimming to Horseback Riding and Roller Skating. She graduated class of 1957 from Rogers High School with an entire gang of close friends who continued throughout their lives to meet and enjoy group trips and activities. Sarah Carter attended Drury University in Springfield, MO., and was initiated into the Alpha Psi Chapter of the Kappa Delta Sorority November 14, 1958. As a lifelong member she earned Kappa Delta’s Emerald Circle status in 2018. In 1959 Sarah was offered the opportunity of recruiting for Kappa Delta at the University of Tulsa. Mutual friends introduced Sarah and David L. Clark on a blind date while both were attending Tulsa University. They married over Christmas break 1960 spending the next 63 years together. Working just as her mother had at the Southwestern Bell telephone office in Tulsa, Sarah decided her real calling was in Family Services. In her late 20’s, while working for Tulsa County as the head of her unit in Child Welfare, Sarah was Awarded Scholarships that allowed her to complete her Masters of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma which demanded attending classes midweek in Norman and driving home to Tulsa to be an administrator, wife and mom. Sarah devoted over 25 years to DHS and Child Welfare in a number of roles including administrator over 6 counties in the early 1980’s, and two years at the State Capital as liaison before retiring. 

 After retirement Sarah filled her time gardening, canning, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She also delighted in giving her time, energy, and resources to a multitude of service organizations and community activities. Sarah volunteered at the Jane Phillips Episcopal Memorial Medical Center in Bartlesville and the Jane Phillips Nowata Medical Center Auxiliary as well as sitting with hospital patients and often drove older members of the community she lovingly referred to as “driving Ms. Daisy”. Sarah served at the District, Regional and Local level of the Disciples Women Fellowship, was Co-Director of the Women’s Ministries of Disciples of Christ and served as Chairman, Elder and Board Member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Nowata. A fund raiser for the Library, Firefighters and 10-33 EMS of Nowata County Sarah was also instrumental in aiding multiple organizations that offered scholarships to Nowata, Bartlesville, Tulsa and Oklahoma youth. A few of Sarah’s local affiliations include the Nowata Boys and Girls Club, Nowata Christmas Angel Tree, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Meals of Love, Meals on Wheels, Save the Savoy and Main Street America. She also served several years as President of the La-Kee-Kon Garden Club of Nowata, and was a Board Member and Docent for the Nowata County Historical Society Museum. 

 A Celebration of Life service is planned for Sarah L. Clark Sunday, June 23rd 2024, at 2:30 pm at the First Christian Church at 211 S. Pine, Nowata, Oklahoma. Pastor Elizabeth Grasham presiding.

Sarah is preceded by her parents Ester and Guy and husband David. Survived by daughter Deborah and partner Natasha, nephew Harlin Rice, sister in law Marcia Clark, sister in law Carlyn (Frank Ritter), nephew Stuart (Jenifer Ritter), niece Jennifer Hardgrave (Chris Hardgrave) and great nephew Riley Hardgrave.