November 7, 1923 – July 27, 2022
Lois Geraldine Clark was quick in wit and character until just days before her passing, dying peacefully in her sleep at the age of 98. Mom was born in Santaquin, Utah, the third of five daughters but the oldest of two who lived past childhood. As such, she was a darling princess during those Depression years to her doting parents, Lorenzo Clark and Lois Wilson Clark.
It was practically love at first sight when handsome Roger Felt first saw her while she was rehearsing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” for a school presentation at Payson High in 1940. They were married in 1942 at the temple. Manti LDS, a few weeks before Papa began basic training as a sailor in the US Navy. Right after the war they had their first child, Renetta, followed by seven boys – Harlan, Rodney, Brian, David, Jonathan, Eric and Jared.
She demonstrated her faith through her voluntary service in her many church callings, her obedience, and her willingness to send her seven sons on missions for the church. She even accepted a call to teach 12 and 13 year old girls, to be their “Beehive Advisor” at the age of 82.
Grief struck her and Dad with the deaths of two of their children. David died of leukemia at the age of 5. At 21, Brian was an excellent swimmer, but he was swept away by a riptide.
Two more were added to the family and considered sons. Tony Montelongo joined us when he was 14 through the LDS Church’s Indian Placement Program, and Madhu Menon when mom took him under her maternal wing when he was a young student so far from his own family in India.
Mom has always loved poetry. She was asked to read it often to her grandmother when she was a child and won a Deseret topical poetry contest in elementary school. When the children were brought up, she went back to school to pursue her dream of getting an English degree. There, a writing class ignited his remaining lifelong passion, writing poetry. His poetry was beautiful yet simple, framing the beauty of the world around us with words. When our dear old dad, her 75-year-old husband, died at 94, she consoled herself in her writing, digging with passion. The following year, 2018, she was Utah’s most awarded poet – Utah State Poet of the Year. Many of his writings are included in his book of poems called “Dancing with Monarchs”. She even submitted poetry to this year’s competition. Who knows what rewards could still come to him posthumously?
Always civic-minded, she was instrumental in building a branch of the Davis County Library in Layton and worked tirelessly against Legacy Highway due to environmental concerns. Last year, she was named Layton’s Hometown Hero. She has served as president of the PTA, Relief Society, Utah Dental Auxiliary, Amuse, Ben Lomond Poetry Group, Utah Poetry Society, as well as the National Poetry Society.
We love you dear mom. Thank you for passing on your confidence in yourself, your appreciation of beauty, and your love of life and family. It will be your legacy.
Mom is survived by six children. Renetta, Harlan (Sandra), Rodney (Kerrie), Jonathan (Melody), Eric (Joyce) and Jared (Lisa). She has 54 grandchildren including spouses, 58 great-grandchildren including spouses and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held August 6, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at the Park Street Chapel at 275 Park Ave., Layton, Utah. Friends may visit family from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. before the church service. She will later be buried in Kaysville City Cemetery.
Condolences can be shared at: www.lindquistmortuary.com
