Elise S Clark Obituary
March 18, 1928–February 8, 2018
Elise S Clark, 89, of Boca Raton, Florida, passed away on February 8, 2018.
Born March 18, 1928, in Port Chester, New York, Elise was the oldest daughter of Vernon and Elsie Schilt of Greenwich, Connecticut. Elise grew up on a farm, where her love of animals and of all things horticultural began. She attended Greenwich schools, graduating from Greenwich High School in 1947. Elise went to Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. While attending a Bible conference in her sophomore year, she met John Ezra Clark, then a student in the MBA program at Harvard University. They married in December of 1948, after a whirlwind courtship of four months. They remained married until his death in 1996.
Raised by godly parents and observing their faithful testimony, Elise made a profession of faith at an early age and committed her life to serving the Lord Jesus Christ. On this commitment she never wavered. Throughout her long and full life, Elise was active in church, always involved in missionary endeavors, serving refreshments, and providing hospitality to itinerant preachers and foreign missionaries on furlough. A member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary to the McAuley Water Street Mission, now the New York City Rescue Mission, Elise had an abiding commitment to serving her Lord in whatever task was required to further the Gospel.
Elise is predeceased by her husband of 48 years, sister Phyllis Stauffer of Ventura, California, and sons Stephen Whitlock and Jeffrey Alan. Elise is survived by sister Paula Dawson of Mill Valley, California, by daughter Claudia Clark Mooij of Neptune, New Jersey, son lan Bruce (Susan) of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, and daughter Elise “Lisa” Clark (Kenneth) Smith of Clemson, South Carolina. Elise is survived by nine grandchildren: Todd, Kelly and Scott Mooij; Hannah (Gregory) Koehrsen, Noah (Kimberlee) Clark, and Micah Clark; Connor,
Caroline and Charlie Smith; and five great-grandchildren: Evan and Adeline Elise Koehrsen; and August, Miriam and Esther Clark.
A memorial service will be held at the First Church of Round Hill, 464 Round Hill Road, Greenwich, Connecticut 06831, on Saturday July 7, 2018, at 2:00 PM, followed by a graveside service at the Quaker Ridge Cemetery, 649 Riversville Road, Greenwich, Connecticut 06831.
Donations may be made in Elise S. Clark’s memory to Christian Missions in Many Lands, POB 13, Spring Lake NJ 07762-0013 or online at www.cmml.us.