Mildred Clark

Mildred Beatrice (Westerfield) Clark, 93, peacefully departed on the 14th day of June, 2020, to join her Heavenly Father and her favorite dancing partner and husband, Ole Joe Clark.

She was born July 11, 1926, in Steele, Mo, to Albert and Stella Westerfield. She attended school in Fagus, MO and graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in 1945. Before marrying Ole Joe Clark in 1946 she worked as a teller at the then State Bank of Poplar Bluff, now Commerce Bank. Together they raised six sons and one daughter, all who survive together with 20 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and generations of family and friends who knew her as Momma Mildred.

She was renowned for always being a happy, cheerful, outgoing, loving, caring and deeply religious person who encouraged, welcomed and fed the many family, friends, acquaintances and indeed strangers that her family brought to her home. Nothing made her happier than welcoming and waiting on 50 or more people for not just holiday meals but anytime her family brought friends to her home.

While raising her children and being extremely active in the many activities at her beloved Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Poplar Bluff, she managed to find time to establish and run the first pizza restaurant in Poplar Bluff in the late 50s and early 60s … the Pizza Cantina located where Walgreens is now. It was a popular teen hangout being right across the street from the then Poplar Bluff Senior High School. When it became too overwhelming to continue

running a business and raising then just her six sons (and Ole Joe Clark) she made and sold her renowned pizzas from her home.

After raising their six sons in Poplar Bluff, she and Ole Joe began spending their winters in Florida with their young daughter Mary, eventually moving there in 1979. They continued to spend their time between Poplar Bluff and Homosassa Springs, Florida until Joe’s passing in April, 1996, only two weeks after their 50th wedding anniversary celebration here in Poplar Bluff where they had their last dance and enjoyed the evening with over 300 family and friends.

She recently was given great love, care and attention at Piedmont Christian Care Center in High Point, North Carolina near her one and only little girl Mary Clark Mullins and her children.

Mildred is survived by her six sons Dan Clark (Sue) of Antioch, Tennessee, Jim Clark of Brooksville, Florida, David Clark (Judy) of Pass Christian, Mississippi, John Clark (Jeanette) of Poplar Bluff, Paul Clark of Brooksville, Florida, Doug Clark of Poplar Bluff and Mary Clark Mullins of Greensboro, North Carolina. She is also survived by her beloved 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren all of whom she cherished and to whom she instilled

her endless love and sense of family.

She was predeceased by her parents, Albert Westerfield and Stella Powell Westerfield Smythe, a brother Cecil Westerfield, a Sister Helen Westerfield Woolard and her best friends, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Col. Allen S. Whitmer and Margaret Clark Whitmer.

Due to the current pandemic situation, the family will have a private Mass of Christian burial at Sacred Heart Church in Poplar Bluff followed by internment at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. As is traditional with the Clark Clan, they look forward to a Celebration of Life in the hopefully near future to gather with family and friends whose lives she touched. They all look forward to toasting Momma Mildred being reunited with her favorite dancing partner Old Joe and for eternity in the presence of our Holy Father.

Since the Clark family is the longest continuously active family at Sacred Heart Parish in Poplar Bluff, having moved here from Ponder, Missouri (Ripley County) in 1894, they have seven generations of family at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Therefore, in lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests any memorials in her honor be made to the Sacred Heart Cemetery in care of Cotrell Funeral Service.

As they have for generations, the family is honored to have the caring staff of Cotrells to be in charge of arrangements. Our unending thanks to them and the wonderful staff at Piedmont Christian Care that so lovingly cared for Mother during her final months. We are also especially thankful to Father Daniel Robles, Pastor at Sacred Heart, Father Simon Enudu, Associate Pastor, Father Mike McDevitt, former Pastor, Deacon David Farris and all of the members of her Sacred Heart family who showed her such heartfelt love through the years.