Karen Sue "Clark" Juica

Karen Sue “Clark” Juica found the last missing puzzle piece and completed this earthly life on Sunday, February 4, 2024. Born to John and Lizzie Clark on April 24, 1961 in Dallas, TX, she was the apple of her daddy’s eye and the burr to her mother’s foot.

Karen excelled in school. So much so that she finished high school a year early at Skyline. A math wizard and puzzle aficionado, Crum and Foster Insurance took a chance on her at the young age of 17. She was a senior underwriter/trainer for them for almost twenty years. Some of her fondest traveling memories and friendships came from her time there.

One evening at a mixer, a Spanish young lad approached her even though she was there with her boyfriend. He offered to take her out to dinner. She thought “a chance to get a steak dinner”. He took her to get her steak dinner and they would marry on July 22, 1978. Many steak dinners were consumed in this marriage of forty-six years.

Trouble began brewing for her when her children were born. Lisa, Justin, and Nathan were her greatest accomplishments she once said. Bologna. Her greatest accomplishment was avoiding taking one selfie in all the pictures we went through. NOT. ONE. PICTURE. BY. HERSELF. Ugh. Mom. It was like a picture puzzle to see what photo would crop the best for your portrait. Well played puzzle master.

Karen supported her husband and children with fierce loyalty. She took many accounting/administrative jobs to support all of our habits. She was the cool band mom, the one who got Mabank ISD to give the option of milk at lunch (Yes, at one time they would not serve milk at lunch.), and the voice of reason and wisdom. She found Jesus because us kids wanted to find Jesus. And she wasn’t going to let us go chasing after a man alone. This commitment of hers brought a life of over forty years of faith at First Presbyterian Church of Mabank.

She would say her greatest accomplishment was not us children but the grandchildren. Someone has to raise them “right”, she said. And did she ever. We thought she was loyal to us….we just didn’t know how quickly we could fall from the pedestal until Olivia, Lincoln, and Eleanor arrived. And her last few years spent as “Nana” were her greatest. We had never seen her so happy as when she was teaching the grandkids the things, we obviously were too ignorant to teach them. God, we loved her for that.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, John Clark Jr, and mother Lizzie Clark.

Left to our own devises to continue her strength and love is her husband, Michael Juica. Her children, Lisa (Juica) Perkins and husband Austin of Frisco, Justin Juica and wife Monica of Shreveport, and Nathan Juica of Mabank. Her grandchildren, Olivia Juica, Lincoln Perkins, and Eleanor Perkins. Karen is also survived by her great-aunt Wanda Combs.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024 at Eubank Funeral Home, Mabank, TX from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024, 1:00 pm, at First Presbyterian Church of Mabank. The Rev. Dr. Ronnie G. Holloman will officiate. A graveside service will follow at Eubank Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to First Presbyterian Church of Mabank.

Please join us in telling the truth about a fierce and amazing woman as we celebrate her remarkable life. She was our strength and courage. We will miss her immensely.