Karen M. Clark

Karen M. Clark, 78, of Collegedale passed away in the early hours of August 6, 2025, after a series of falls resulting from leukemia and early onset dementia. She was born March 22, 1947, in Lockport, New York, and was the only surviving child of her parents. Karen grew up just oL Lake Ontario on a 40-acre farm that was devoted to beef cattle and to orchards full of magnificent fruit. Because the local General Motors factory would grant summer leave to employees who were farmers, her father could travel each summer after harvest, and the family eventually visited all 48 of the continental United States. 

Karen was a star student not only at Barker Central School, where she earned the highest GPA in the district while in third grade, but also throughout her four years of high school at Union Springs Academy, where she and her dearest friends graduated in 1965. She excelled in math and English and enjoyed working on the school yearbook and newspaper staL. During her second year attending Atlantic Union College in Massachusetts, she got married and returned to Barker for several years before resuming her education as a young mother in 1974. She then completed a bachelor's degree in home economics from Southern Missionary College in 1978 and a master's degree in clothing and textiles from Michigan State University in 1980.

 After one year of teaching clothing design at the University of Arkansas at Pine BluL, she moved to Southern Mississippi and served as principal and teacher of an Adventist elementary school, with her daughter as one of her students. Two years later she joined the faculty of a boarding high school, Bass Memorial Academy, in Lumberton. Karen worked at Bass for 35 years, first as the librarian and home economics teacher, then later as the English teacher and sponsor of its "Nutcracker" student newspaper and "Pecan Shadows" yearbook. She grew especially close to those who served as editors or as her student workers, to the class oLicers when she was a senior sponsor, and to her coworkers. In 2003 she received the Zapara Award for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2004 the BMA Alumni Association honored her with special recognition for her contributions to campus morale. The hours she spent in a classroom were the highlight of her life, and she treasured close, lifelong friendships with hundreds of her students. Karen also visited family as often as possible, cruised in the Caribbean and in Russia, and toured at least a dozen beautiful countries in Europe. She collected ornaments from her travels and looked forward to displaying them each year on her Christmas tree. Karen retired in 2013, then moved to Tennessee in 2018 to live near her family and alma mater. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Marjorie Haight; her husband, Barry Clark; a son, David Clark; and a grandson, Joshua Hicks. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Debbie & Henry Hicks of Collegedale; her grandson, Andrew Hicks; and by many beloved cousins. A memorial service will begin at 4 p.m. on August 16 at Collegedale Community SDA Church, in Connection Corner on the second floor. Loved ones are encouraged to celebrate this sweet teacher by enjoying a favorite chocolate dessert.