Yvonne Murray Clark, 81


Yvonne Murray Clark, 81

Yvonne Lou Murray Clark, 81, of Columbia, died Sept. 30, 2018, in Columbia. A private family memorial service will be held at inurnment in Memorial Park, Columbia. 

She was born April 9, 1937, in Thornfield, the daughter of Marcus Hanna Murray and Luvena Elvina Howerton Murray. She was educated in Ozark County elementary and secondary schools, graduating as valedictorian from Gaines-ville High School in 1954. On June 6, 1954, in Thornfield, she married fellow Ozark Countian Larry Clark.

She pursued college studies at what is now Missouri State University and at the University of Illinois and was immensely proud when she obtainer her bachelor’s degree, GS, from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1976. In 2017 she was honored by the Arts & Sciences Department with the Distinguished Service Award. Also, in 2017, Mrs. Clark was thrilled with the naming of the Larry D. Clark Summer Repertory Theatre, which her late husband founded. The theatre will celebrate its 50th year in 2019 and will have perpetual support from the Yvonne Lou Murray Clark Endowment.

Mrs. Clark was a member and deacon of the First Christian Church in Columbia.

An avid golfer and fierce competitor, she won the Columbia Country Club Women’s Championship four times. She also served on the board of directors for a number of years and was delighted to have hit a hole in one there in 2005. After certification by the USGA Course Rating System, she enjoyed traveling statewide to play and rate the difficulty of Misouri’s many golf courses. 

Not having been blessed with children, the lives of Mrs. Clark and her husband took an abrupt turn when her nephew Marcus Murray came to live with them after the death of his parents. Marc was a senior in high school at the time, and the Clarks pursued formal adoption. 

Mrs. Clark is survived by Marc and his children, Jessica of Las Vegas, Nevada, Joe of Chicago and Julie of New York City.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial tributes may be made to First Christian Church, 1010 N. 10th St., Columbia, MO 65201 and to the Yvonne Lou Murray Clark Endowment (tax ID 43-6003859), University of Missouri, c/o Dean of Arts & Sciences, 110o Lowry Hall, Columbia, MO 65211.

Ozark County Times

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