Myrtle "Mert" L. Clark

Myrtle (Mert) Lucille Clark passed away on February 17, 2023, at the age of 89.

Mert was born on July 15, 1933, in Hastings, Michigan, the daughter of Elmer and Ina (Ballie) Colvin. She was a 1951 graduate of Hastings High School. Shortly after graduation, Mert and a friend drove to Fort Hood, TX to marry her high school sweetheart, Dick Clark, who was serving in the US Army there. They were married on June 23, 1951, and not long after, Dick was medically discharged, and they returned to Hastings to begin their life together. Dick and Mert were married 70 years before Dick's passing in November of 2021. Dick and Mert were blessed with four children.

Mert was proud to be one of the first volunteers, escorting patients at Pennock Hospital, logging in over 600 Hours.  She belonged to the Hendershot Ladies Aide, Hendershot Birthdate Club, and Pennock Hospital Guild #3.

As a teenager, Mert worked at The Ben Franklin Store in downtown Hastings. She was a stay-at-home mom until her twin daughters were in junior high. At that time, she started working at The Hastings Banner proofreading, taking obituaries over the phone, bookwork, and other office tasks. She retired on January 1, 1989, after Dick retired from Kellogg's. They enjoyed traveling and spent their winters in Texas, Arizona, and Florida with some of their closest friends.

Mert's hobbies included counted cross stitch, reading, puzzles, and biking with her sisters.  She especially loved her grandchildren.  Mert and Dick had a very large garden that supplied many vegetables and fruit. Her love of gardening continued at Carveth Village, where she was a resident. She took care of their flowers and their vegetable garden with great care.

Mert was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard (Dick) Clark, her only son, Michael Clark, her in-laws Clayton and Reva Clark, her brother Floyd (Kate) Colvin, sisters, Virginia Colvin, June VandenBurg, Elaine White Stewart, and Doris Colvin, and brothers Edwin (Ruth) Huhn and Gerald (Arlene) Clark.

Surviving are her daughters, Vickie (Mike) Ward, Kathy (Tom) Pierce, and Karen (Doug) Maiville. grandchildren, Amy Ward Tyner, Jill (Mark) Hewitt, Kristy (Paul) McKay, Joshua (Jessica) Pierce, Meaghan (Brandon) Hopkins, James (Kasia) Maiville, Jeffrey (Ericka) Maiville, 18 great-grandchildren, sister Verna Lancaster, and many nieces and nephews that she dearly loved.  The family would like to thank Carveth Village for their wonderful care and for her special friend there, Norma Weeks.

Memorial Contributions can be made to the Barry County Commission on Aging, 320 W. Woodlawn Ave., Hastings, MI 49058, or Carveth Village, 690 W. Main Street, Middleville, MI 49333.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Girrbach Funeral Home, 328 S Broadway; Hastings, MI 49058, with a service to follow at 12:00 Noon. Military honors for Dick Clark will be provided by the Hastings American Legion Post 45. Interment will follow at Dowling Cemetery. Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home, to leave an online condolence visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.