Juanita Mae Clark

Juanita Mae McGaughey Clark, of Las Vegas, Nevada, born on Easter Sunday April 1, 1934, in Huron, South Dakota, peacefully returned to her heavenly home at the age of 83 on January 10, 2018. God’s grace provided time for peace, warm fellowship, and prayer with many family and friends. She was preceded in death by her son Sam Clark Jr., her husband Sam Clark Sr., her parents Noah Everett and Margaret Mae McGaughey, and her brother Harvey McGaughey. Juanita is survived by her sister Valda Jackson, brother Roger McGaughey and leaves behind the beautiful legacy of her two daughters Thelma Slaughter and Lynita Nelson along with 12 Grandchildren and 14 Great Grandchildren. Juanita’s Dad and Mom began their family in the humble beginning of a small tar paper home in Huron, South Dakota. She was a very loved and spirited beautiful little girl. The following eight years included helping her Dad at the Texaco Gas Station along the James River, watching the trains travel over the nearby railroad trestle, starting elementary school, developing a love for chickens, pushing her pet chicken in a decorated baby buggy on July 4 th city parades, and helping her Mom walk the baby buggy with her brother Harvey and later sister Valda to the grocery store, the Methodist Church, and nearby parks. By 1942, her baby brother Roger was born as the family moved to a farm north of Huron. Juanita loved farm life, getting the farm horses and milk cows up from the pasture with a leather strap rolled in her left rear pocket, milking and feeding cattle, cranking the butter churn, helping harness the horses, stacking hay, shocking and thrashing grain, gardening, and other farm chores. She completed the 8th grade at Fairfield # 4 country school in 1949, and graduated from Huron High School in 1953. Juanita continued her education at Adams State College in Colorado and taught six grade levels for one year at a country school near Hitchcock, SD. In 1955 Juanita gave up a stewardess opportunity with Braniff Airlines to accept an elementary teaching position at the Whitney School District near Las Vegas, Nevada. She married Sammy D. Clark in 1956. They began their very much loved family with their first child Thelma, followed by Sam Jr., and Lynita. Juanita continued her career in teaching, enriching her classrooms with love of country and childhood farming experiences. She completed a Masters of Education Degree in 1976 and retired from education in 1995 following 40 years of distinguished teaching service.

Juanita carried herself with dignity, integrity, and grace. She was a very active, intelligent, and energetic

woman with wit and wisdom, tending to her garden and chickens, providing varied community service

including leadership of her church’s Young Women Program, completing an 18 month church mission

to Perth, Australia, traveling the world including New Zealand, Antarctica, Alaska, South America, the

Middle East, and Europe, researching family genealogy, organizing family reunions, and providing

statewide service as a strong conservative and common sense voice on local, state, and national issues

and concerns.

Juanita was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who very much enjoyed time with

family, playful activities, Grandparent Daycare, and taking grandchildren out for birthday breakfasts.

She shared these thoughts about her cherished family at the 2010 McGaughey Reunion: “I have been

blessed by my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. All are beautiful or handsome,

intelligent, talented, and of sound character--with individual personalities adding what the Lord knows is

needed for our family and for their unique purposes in this earthly life. Each developing their talents

gleaned from the standards of ancestors we know and from those we have not yet met.”

You’re invited to attend her memorial Monday, 11:30 - 12:30 January 22nd at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 6100 Alta Dr., Las Vegas, NV. In lieu of flowers, donation on her behalf can be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - Missionary Fund.