Barbara Ruth Gartrell Clark

Barbara Ruth (Wright) Gartrell Clark passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton, Kansas at the age of 83. She was born on July 7, 1933 in Stockton to the late Irvin Day and Lula Ruth (Jennings) Wright. She graduated from Stockton High School with the Class of 1950 and attended Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science for one year and Fort Hays State College for three semesters. She then taught for two years at the Pleasant View country school. On May 24, 1953 Barbara was united in marriage to Darrel Gartrell at the Methodist Church in Stockton. They were blessed with two children, Gregg and Susan. Barbara was a hardworking mother and farm wife for twenty-four years. After Darrel’s passing in 1977, she attended NCK Tech in Hays where she received her LPN degree. On December 26, 1980 she married Robert “Bob” Clark in Stockton. She and Bob began operating the dry cleaning shop together. They also enjoyed camping, collecting antiques, hobby farming, and attending family gatherings. Barbara was a member of the Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, where she played piano, before transferring her membership to Stockton United Methodist Church. There she loved to play piano, organ, and chimes as well as sing in the choir. She was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a 4-H leader for many years, a councilmember of the Stockton City Council, a member of the Solomon Valley manor Auxiliary, and a faithful worker at the UMW Thrift Shop. Barbara is survived by her son Gregg Gartrell and wife Susan; daughter Susan Thayer and husband Kevin; a sister Clara Mae Riffel; grandchildren Ethan Gartrell and wife Rena, Brett Gartrell, Heather Mentzer and husband Nathan, Nicole Bivens and husband Mitchell, Austin Thayer and wife Hannah, and Lindsey Thayer; and seven great-grandchildren. Also dear to Barbara were the families of step-son Sonny Clark and wife Charlene; step-daughters Bonnie Younie, Judy Pettijohn and husband Bill, Kris Kuck, Jill Sanchez and husband Bill, Judy Long and husband Terry, and the late Randy Towns. She was preceded in death by her parents Irvin and Lula Wright; husbands Darrel Gartrell and Bob Clark; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ellen and Lowell Snyder. Barbara was a woman who not only lovingly cared for her family, but always extended the same hand of love and mercy to friends, neighbors, and people she met on a daily basis. A woman of noble character, she was strong of heart, mind, and spirit. Her children arise and call her blessed, for the generations that follow shall honor all that she has done and forever bring her praise in heaven with her Lord. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Stockton. Burial will follow at the Mt. Vernon Cemetery near Stockton. Visitation will be from 1:00-8:00pm on Friday at the funeral home in Stockton. Family will receive friends from 6:00-7:30pm. Memorials are suggested to Heifer International or the United Methodist Church in Stockton and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N 1st Street, Stockton, KS 67669. Online condolences may be left at www.plumeroverlease.com