Kitty Elizabeth Clark

Kitty Elizabeth Clark passed away in August 2017. To friends and family she was known simply as Kitty - and here was someone as unique as her name. Raised in small, quiet Wythe county she was someone who kept to herself, was fiercely independent, and lived a content and quiet life. She possessed a deep love for her family but never one to make a fuss. Instead she preferred to put forth a steady stream of strength and support - usually from a distance but nevertheless consistently present.

I knew her as Mom and anyone who was close to Mom knew she absolutely loved dogs. There was never a time when she was without a canine companion. If you could've witnessed the attention and accoutrements of her furry companions: specially formulated food, doggie vitamins, and hour-long walks 2 to 3 times a day whether it was 100 degrees or freezing temperatures. People chuckle and think I'm joking . . . but I think my brother and I played second fiddle to those dogs.

As an adult, she made her home in small-town Ohio and this is where she raised me and my older brother. It's one of those places where the four seasons are recognized as Mother Nature intended - Winters were wet, cold, and miserable. Falls were colorful and full of leaves. And with Springs and Summers came flowers, blue skies, and long hot days. On any of those hot Summer days, back when kids still played outside, my brother and I would be outdoors playing with all of the other neighborhood kids; stopping only for popsicles and eager for giant cups of ice water. When it was especially hot, we would race inside, make a beeline for the freezer, and eagerly reach for the tray of ice cubes to give our drink that extra cold kick - only to find the trays missing or empty. A glance in the dog's direction revealed the source of betrayal as a water bowl filled to the brim and overflowing with those ice cubes that were supposed to be chilling our drinks. The dogs would look up at us with that familiar, innocent look that all dogs have. . .but we knew better!

Something that always struck me as remarkable about Mom was that she successfully started a second career after moving on from factory work. After attending a local community college, she worked as an onsite Counselor for troubled youth. She remarked one day that her wrist hurt from a scuffle she had while on the job. When I inquired further, she explained that because some of the youths could be rowdy and difficult to deal with, her job had required that she learn self-defense techniques. She had hurt her arm while defending herself from a teenage boy she confronted while he was trying to run away from the counseling center. Her exact words were 'I had to take him down. . ' which I found humorous.

And there's no doubt in my mind that she won the scuffle - as unevenly matched as it may have
seemed, a teenage boy favored with the vigor of youth vs an older, frail and aging woman. Those who were closest to Kitty - especially her children, who when they misbehaved as young kids would be disciplined with a smack to the backside (!) - we knew that her slim frame belied her true physical strength that was actually quite impressive!

She was good at that job; she remarked that it was rewarding and gave her a sense of fulfillment. Several of the youths whom she counseled wrote personal letters of thanks and gratitude after graduating from the counseling center. They specifically credited Kitty's counsel as instrumental to their rehabilitation. So, there she was in her sixties, taking self-defense classes and helping kids who had strayed get back onto the right path.

Even though she was mostly introverted, she enjoyed connecting with her family most, whether it was just a picture, a text, or phone call. I remember one particular Mother's Day I sent her a beautiful hand-made lei of plumerias and orchids from the Hawaiian Islands - it had to be overnighted to preserve its freshness. I called early in the morning to see whether she liked it only to find that as gifts go, it was a flop. However, the year I made her a photo collage of myself, her son and his wife and their two children, she said it made her day and she went on to send comments and compliments for weeks afterwards. Anything involving her family was always a winner.

Now that she's passed, I appreciate her life and presence just as much now as when she was living. I'm impressed with what she accomplished with her quiet life: she raised two young kids as a single parent, worked hard towards owning her own home, made a difference in the lives of others, and was healthy and independent through to the end.

She told me more than once that she prayed for her family everyday. Philippians 4:6 was one of her favorite bible verses: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.' I cherish the blessings that she bestowed upon us then, and the blessings that she continues to rain down and cover us with now, on this day. I sense that she's happy, I sense that she's well.

For your daughter, you cared for me as a sickly child and shared with me your strength to endure, heal, and grow into the good health that was mine by right. For your son, you had the courage to fight a mother's instinct and let go so that he might have the fatherly direction and companionship he craved and deserved. And for this and our gift of life, we thank you.

Dog Lover. Counselor. Kitty. Mom. You are loved and missed.