Obituary of Dorothy F. Clark

Dorothy Fern Clark of Limon passed away peacefully surrounded by her children and grandchildren while listening to her great granddaughter singing Amazing Grace at 8:00 pm on Monday, June 3^rd.  She was born on February 9, 1928 in Oldfield Township, Missouri to Lewis and Joyce Gray.  After the passing of her father Lewis in 1928, Joyce and Dottie moved to Pueblo, CO to live with her Aunt where Joyce met Victor Smelker while he was working on the railroad.  Victor and Joyce married in 1929.  They eventually moved to Stratton, CO where Dottie’s parents farmed for a living.  Dottie attended the Smelker family school south of Stratton through the 8^th grade, then graduated high school from Stratton, CO.  Dottie then taught school at the Smelker family school south of Stratton until she married Walter Clark of Kirk, CO in December of 1946.  Walt and Dottie farmed near Kirk and then Stratton until the drought of the early 1950’s when they moved to Aurora where Walt worked for Gates Rubber Company, and Dottie taught at various schools in Aurora while completing her master’s in education from the University of Denver.  Walt and Dottie bought land south of Limon, CO in 1971 where Dottie eventually moved in 1984 and operated her farm and ranch until 2013.  Dottie was preceded in death by her parents Lewis Gray and Joyce (Gray) Smelker of Stratton, Colorado, step-father Victor Smelker of Stratton, Colorado, her brothers Carl Smelker of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Ralph Smelker of Stratton, Colorado. 

She is survived by her two children Ron Clark of Waynesboro, Virginia and Patricia (Gary) Davis of Limon, CO.  Her Sister Elsie (Rich) May, of Stratton, CO. As well as 6 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews as well as many friends.   She will be laid to rest on her farm south of Limon on June 7^th, 2019.       

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s research hospital; StJude.org in Dorothy’s name