Kelly J. Clark

Kelly Jean Jackson Clark of Lake Charles, LA, died Wednesday, March 23, 2016, from injuries sustained in a tragic automobile accident. She was just 53, and her sudden loss left all who knew and loved her reeling in grief and shock. Only the comfort of knowing she lived her life fully and with an abundance of love makes this bearable for her family and friends.

Kelly was born March 12, 1963, in Wellsville, NY, as the middle child, to Robert Ralph and Willie Ray Jackson. She was named Kelly Jean to honor one of “Bob’s” military buddies, reversing the order of his names because she was a girl. And despite the middle child syndrome or perhaps because of her birth order, Kelly was the “good child,” a team player and a peacemaker who was always devoted to her siblings, big sister “Sherrie” and big brother Bobby, as well as little brothers Karl and Troy. As a child, she traveled with her family due to her father’s work as a welder, living not only in upstate New York, but also in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nebraska, Mississippi and Florida. The siblings became especially close to one another and their mother after the death of their father in an industrial accident in 1977.

She attended middle school in High Springs, FL, and graduated from Santa Fe High School in Alachua, FL. Her classmates remember her as ray of sunshine in high school, always smiling and laughing. She was a member of the Spanish Club and had a keen interest in Spanish, which she pursued as a hobby, becoming so fluent it was frequently mistaken to be her native language. After graduating with the SFHS Raiders Class of 1981, she attended Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL, and also the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She studied communications and gained skills which she put to good use throughout the rest of her life. She began a career in retail, ultimately moving to Merritt Island, FL. It was while working at Scotty’s in Cocoa, FL, that she met the love of her life and followed her heart to the Pelican State.

Kelly has lived the past twenty-two years in Lake Charles and shared an incredibly blessed marriage of nearly 20 years with her husband, Neil Clark, who she married on December 28, 1996. Their wedding reflected their priorities, an intimate ceremony attended by close family and focused on the commitment they made to one another. They were best friends who were nearly inseparable and frequently referred to by others as soul mates. Their love, mutual respect and shared appreciation were a model for a happy marriage.

Kelly took great pride in working alongside her husband Neil, and served as the Secretary and Treasurer of their business, Environmental Response Services.  She was an active member of the Propeller Club Port of Lake Charles and was integral to the organization’s functioning, from receiving mail to organizing special events. She was also actively involved with the American Bio-Recovery Association and played a key role in hosting the 18th ABRA Annual Conference held in New Orleans last August.

Like most interesting women, Kelly was a complex mix of contrasting qualities, a larger-than-life personality who was not forgotten once you had the opportunity to meet her. As a child the girl with the corkscrew curls and freckles objected to being labeled a redhead, until as a young woman she embraced the image and colored her auburn curls a vibrant shade of burgundy. Those red curls became her trademark and they were indicative of her colorful personality.

She cherished her daily work and personal routines and had a schedule of prescribed activities for each day of the week. Yet she was an enthusiastic traveler who enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people. She and Neil had recently completed an excursion to the West Coast which included a hot air balloon ride and a wine country tour. A prior vacation took them to Panama, a place Kelly had always wanted to visit. She had a keen sense of humor and dearly loved a good laugh but she would not descend to a joke at another’s expense; she’d laugh with you, not at you. Kelly was an avid reader, speed reading her way through the latest best sellers (always a hardback edition) and then gifting them to friends and relatives who could not match her pace and who still have numerous volumes on hand to read in the weeks and months ahead. Despite her passion for the solitary pursuit of reading, she was also a people person who lit up a room when she entered and made a point to welcome everyone into her circle. She was easygoing in many ways, however she was a stickler for details and for the rules and made sure that everything she took part in was done the right way.

She held strong and well-reasoned opinions and would gladly debate a subject, but do not cross the line of civility lest you be chastised with her sternest warning, “Be nice.” She was generous by nature, one of the most giving people you could ever meet. She gave of herself and her time, and she also took enormous pleasure in gift-giving, going out of her way to find just the thing that would delight the recipient. Still, she had a keen sense of a dollar hard-earned and did not spend on things she deemed not worth their cost. Kelly loved to eat and to dine out and indulgently watched Neil try the most exotic dishes on the menu while she stuck to her tried and true favorites time after time. She came from a boisterous family where wrestling was considered part of the evening’s fun, still she went to great lengths to see that everyone got along and rarely raised her voice. And while Kelly did not have any children, she was a mother to many and in many ways. She loved children and doted on her nieces and nephews. She also played a special maternal role to stepson, “Drew” and goddaughter, Teresa. She was a true mother hen to those around her, including animals. Strays who came Kelly’s way – cat, dog or bird - were assured of care and a good home, whether with her or one of her finding.

Kelly’s defining quality was as simple and as complex as this: she was truly and genuinely nice. Kelly will be remembered for her kind heart and her generous nature, her “don’t worry, be happy” approach to life, and for the amazing love she had for her husband, her family, her friends and her animals. The loss of such a force of nature is felt by the many people who loved her and celebrated her unique spirit. She will live on in the hearts and in the memories of those she has left behind.  

She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Neil Andrew Clark of Lake Charles; step-son, Andrew Richard Clark of Tallahassee, FL; mother, Willie Ray Royster of High Springs, FL; sister, Cheryl Jackson Cooper (Michael) of Ocean Springs, MS; three brothers, Karl Dean Jackson (Pam) of High Springs, FL, Troy Lee Jackson (Michelle) of High Springs, FL, and Bobby Darrell Jackson (Tammy) of Springfield, GA; mother-in-law, Kathleen Waters Clark of Venice, FL; and two sisters-in-law, Kathleen "Kay" Clark of Bradenton, FL and Lee McGee (John) of Venice, FL. She is also lovingly remembered by Goddaughter, Teresa Rutter and her daughter, Lilyana Oliphant of Cocoa Beach, FL; niece, Alayna Noelle Jackson and her mother, Erin Ferrell Hembree of Newberry, FL; nieces; Cady Michelle Cooper of Ocean Springs, MS, and Rose McGee of Venice, FL; nephew; Cyrus Jacob Cooper of New Orleans, LA, and his son, Ryan Michael Cooper; and nephews, Trevor Scott Jackson and Spenser Thomas Jackson of Springfield, GA. In addition, Kelly leaves behind numerous friends and colleagues who mourn her loss and share many special memories.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Ralph Jackson.

Memorial services in Florida will be held Saturday, April 9, 2016 at River of Life Church, 14200 NW 148th Place, Alachua, with Pastor Marcus Windle officiating. The service will begin at 1:30 PM, and all who attend are invited to stay for fellowship and refreshments immediately after.

In respect of Kelly's wishes private Memorial services were held locally at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church of Lake Charles.  The Rev. Peter Cook was the officiate. 

Memorial donations may be made to a local animal shelter or another worthy cause which benefits people or animals.