Dorothy June Clark

Dorothy June Evans Clark, age 62, died peacefully after a long battle with breast cancer on April 16, 2018 in Fresno, California. Dorothy was born on December 13, 1955 in Calexico, California, the daughter of Berna Mardis and Delbert Evans, and raised by Woodrow “Woody” Mardis.

In her youth, Dorothy enjoyed riding horses with friends, and ran for Rodeo Queen in high school at Palo Verde High School in Blythe, California. She also loved rocks and would frequently accompany her Dad to the desert to “rock hound” for their family business, Mardis House of Gems.

In 1973, Dorothy married the love of her life William “Bill” Clark in Blythe California. Bill worked for Sears and Dorothy worked for Ford in the parts department and their family business. They moved to Casa Grande, Arizona in 1975 and began their family. With their first daughter, they then moved to Show Low, Arizona where their family grew to include another daughter and son. In 1985 they moved to Rancho Cucamonga, California, and then to Porterville California in 1987 where they settled and raised their family.

Over the years, as their family began to grow, so did Dorothy’s love for kids. She ran a daycare from their home for more than 25 years. She loved her family and always put their needs above her own. Her commitment to Jesus and to kids ran deep as she helped with kids camps and was a counselor at many camps. She was a dedicated parent in what ever activity her kids were involved, from 4H to sports to band to choir to church kids and youth group activities. She and Bill committed their time to serving as youth leaders at the Porterville Church of the Nazarene and lead small group bible studies in their homes. Her love for young people didn't stop with just the kids in her home, church and community - she saw to it that their family would host four separate exchange students from France, Germany and our adopted country of Denmark.

Dorothy accepted Jesus as her Savior in her childhood at a neighborhood bible club and she enjoyed going to church with her sister Debi until she was able to choose to go on her own. She became a member of the Nazarene Church and was dedicated to living her life for Jesus. In the late 1970s she was part of a gospel women's group called Charity. They were women from various churches that were raising their kids and traveling to perform and share the gospel of Jesus. In 1983 she was baptized in a frigid river in the white mountains of Arizona and she never turned back from her dedication to the Lord. Her children woke to the sounds of the little white radio on the refrigerator that was ringing out with songs of praise and the words of Focus on the Family. She was often found practicing songs that she would share in church and was active with the worship ministry at many of the churches they attended through her life. She was active in women's ministries not only in her church but in the community christian women's clubs in the cities she called home. She shared Jesus with everyone that she met, and Dorothy never knew a stranger. Her kindness, respect and love for others was shared freely and without reservation. Even in her later years battling cancer, she was known to stop in the parking lot of Kaiser just to pray with people that the Lord drew her to and to offer them words of encouragement that the Lord laid on her heart. She prayed regularly for everyone she encountered - even long after they had parted ways.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, William “Bill” Clark of Clovis, CA; daughter Leslie and her husband Kevin Holland of Bakersfield, CA and their children Paige, Zane, Ethan, Aiden, Genevieve, Oliver, and Phineas; daughter Malissa Raphoon of Bakersfield, CA and her children Harley and William; son William “Woody” and his wife Alisha Clark of Sacramento, CA and their children William and Vincent; sisters Stephanie “Tippy” Achterberg and Nancy Mardis; and Danish daughter Anne and her husband Peter Therkildsen of Herning, Denmark and their children Lasse and Carla. She also leaves behind numerous loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. She was preceded by her parents Berna and “Woody” Mardis, and Delbert Evans; sister Deborah Blackwood; and brother Leslie “Bubba” Evans.

Services will be held for all friends and family at Fresno First Church of the Nazarene 6758 E. Butler Ave. Fresno, CA 93727 on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent in her name to Fresno First Church of the Nazarene (559) 255-9468 or online at fresnonaz.churchcenter.com/giving.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.boicefuneralhome.com for the CLARK family.