Charlene Eloise Clark

Charlene Eloise Clark, 78, died Jan. 29, 2012, from cancer at her home in Palmer.

Per Charlene's request, no services are planned.

Charlene was born Sept. 3, 1933, to Raymond and Luella Nee (Pier) Lurtz in O'Fallon, Ill. She graduated high school and went to airline stewardess school.

Charlene moved to Alaska in 1958 and had worked as an ACS telephone operator in Anchorage and as a telephone operator in King Salmon. She also worked as receptionist for Murrey, Shibo, Stayle and Deliseo legal firm in Anchorage. She had lived in Fairbanks, Murphy Dome and Talkeetna before she made Palmer her home. Charlene was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Palmer. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading, traveling, RVing, gardening and was a jigsaw puzzle builder extraordinaire.

Her family wrote, "Charlene was a wonderful, loving wife, and a kind and caring mother. She brought joy to everyone with her effervescent personality, her wit and joy in life. Charlene loved Alaska, the people and the wildlife. She was wonderful with people and brightened everyone's day with her charm and ability to work with people. Charlene never had a bad word to say about anyone. She was a wonderful gardener and always had the most beautiful flowerbeds. Even in winter, her green thumb, wonderful cooking and bubbly personality always resulted in a welcoming home. Charlene provided outstanding nurturing care and love to her two children, Karen and Greg."

Preceding her in death was her sister, Norma Jean Ziegler; and her parents, Raymond and Luella Lurtz.

Surviving are her husband, Thomas Donald Clark of Palmer; son, Gregory Thomas Clark of Selah, Wash.; daughter, Karen Sue Clark of Anchorage; brother, Delbert Lurtz of Fairview Heights, Ill.; sisters, Mildred Sims of Urbana, Ill., Delores Elliot of Washington, Mo., and Kathryn Flowers of Fairview, Texas.

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory cared for the family.