Jacqueline "Jacque" Clark

Jacqueline “Jacque” Clark, 91, of Valdosta, died on May 11, 2025 after a period of declining health. Jacqueline was born in Freemantle, Australia on June 19, 1934, to the late Dorothy Tytherleigh, was raised by Alec and Mary Baird, and grew up during the depression in Western Australia. After high school, she went to teachers college and became an elementary teacher to children all over the Outback in Western Australia and in Perth. During this same time, she began a modeling career that put her in Vogue magazine and earned her Miss Western Australia. In her late 20’s, she went on “walkabout” with her friends to Europe. While on a skiing trip that allowed her to see snow for the first time, she met a dashing young US Air Force Captain Richard Clark. They soon started a whirlwind romance where he would fly his jet from his base in Germany on a ‘training mission’ to Gatwick, England, borrow a motorcycle from the base and take Jacqueline on a date in London before flying home. They were married in London on December 7, 1963. She followed him throughout his career in the Air Force all over the world. They began their family on bases in Europe and America and she was very skilled in assisting her husband with entertaining dignitaries and foreign military officials in Italy and other locations.

When Col. Clark finally retired in Valdosta, Jacqueline treasured the ability to settle down and become a part of a community. She was a devoted member of Park Avenue Church, participating in the Congregational Care committee and helping to open their Clothes Closet. She was also very active with Valdosta's Retired Officers Wives Club. She and her husband Dick were also instrumental in helping Honor Flight, the effort to help WW II veterans visit Washington and the WW II Memorial, which became a great success in our community.

Survivors include two sons, David Richard Clark, of Valdosta, and Steven Michael Clark, of Tampa, FL; daughter, Anne Lauren Clark, of Atlanta; her grandchildren, Victoria Clark of Peoria, IL and Connor Clark, of Tampa, FL; and her half-brother, Jon Tytherleigh, of Australia. She was preceded in death by her husband Col. Richard R. Clark (USAF, Ret.) and parents.

A funeral service will be held at 11am on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with Rev. David Tart officiating. Burial will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will visit prior to the service from 10-11am. Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to the Honor Flight Network (which is now focused on flights for Vietnam veterans) at https://www.honorflight.org/donate/.

Online condolences may be shared on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com.

Carson McLane Funeral Home