Mildred Ruth Clarke St. John

Mildred “Woo” Clarke St. John, 82, of Lake Charles, LA, passed away on May 16 in a local hospital from heart failure.

Woo was born on September 1, 1940, to Mildred and Thomas Clarke, Sr. in Lake Charles, LA and was a lifelong resident. After Woo graduated from Lake Charles High School, she went on to study at McNeese State University. After graduating with a degree in Education, she started her first teaching job at Washington High School (Washington-Marion) as an Art Teacher, beginning a 25-year career as an educator. She went on to earn her Master’s and Master’s +30 Degrees in education. She was an active member of several professional organizations and was always passionate about art and public education.

Woo was predeceased by her parents, Mildred and Thomas Clarke, Sr; her son, Ian Olmsted; her sister, Constance Clarke; her brothers, Billy Clarke, Tom Clarke, Jr; and her sister-in-law, June Clarke. She is survived by her second husband of 46 years, John St. John of Lake Charles; her daughter, Aileen Olmsted; her grandchild, John Reilly Richard, both of Lafayette; her sister-in-law, Joyce Clarke of Lake Charles; and many beloved nieces and nephews and their children.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Johnson Funeral Home located at 4321 Lake Street, Lake Charles, LA on Saturday, June 24 from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Mildred and Thomas Clarke McNeese Foundation Scholarship.