Mary Ellen Clark

Mary Ellen Clark, 95, of Galesburg, IL, formerly of Viola, died on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at Rosewood Care Center, Galesburg. The family will greet guests from 1:00 to 2:00 PM on Sunday, November 26th with services to follow at 2:00 PM at Speer Funeral Home in Aledo. A light meal will be served at Viola United Methodist Church Community Center following services. Graveside services will be Monday at 10:00 AM at the Aledo Cemetery.Mary was born on February 28, 1922 in rural Little York, IL, the daughter of Asa B. and Grace Butler Livingston. She attended Monmouth High School and then married Loren C. Clark of Seaton on April 18, 1942. During their 73 years of marriage, the Clarks lived in several states during WWII and then farmed in Illinois and Iowa. They owned Lorco Water Conditioning in Viola.Mary was employed by Genesis Mercer County Hospital in Aledo for 44 years, retiring as she neared her 90th birthday. She loved working in healthcare and was a licensed reflexologist. Mary was well known for her baking, gardening, and canning, as well as her dry sense of humor. After retirement, she started a business making afghans and other crochet projects. An avid reader, it wasn’t unusual to find her with a book in hand and a cat sleeping in her lap.Those left to share memories of Mary are daughters Grace Johnson (Jim Pransky) of Davenport, IA, Nancy (Bobby) Dillard of Galesburg, IL, Donna (Son) Truong, Long Beach, CA., son James Clark (Terri Clemons) of Chicago and daughter-in-law Etta Clark of Humble, TX. Grandchildren are Brett (Heidi) Clark, Michael Clark, Bryan Dillard, Amy (Tod) Donhauser , Brooke Truong, Katie (Aaron) Ross, Emily Dillard and Lindsay Clark. Great grandchildren are Cassie (Preston) Miller, Megan Clark, Jadyn Clark and Olivia Donhauser. Great-great children are Gunner, Adelyn, and Thorin Miller. Also surviving are sister-in -law Esther Morford of Milan, IL, many nieces and nephews, with special note of “nephew-son” Dennis Clark and the extended Truong family in California. Those having passed before include her parents, husband Loren, son Lawrence, grandson Christopher, and great- grandson Austin Clark. Also deceased are her brothers George, Robert, Warren, William, Frank and John Livingston and sister Edith Anderson.Memorials in Mary's memory may be left to the Mercer Foundation for Health.