Patricia Ann Dawson Clark, 84, formerly of Hereford, Texas, passed peacefully into the loving arms of her Savior on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Temple, Texas.

The family will gather for Graveside Service: 1:00 P.M., Monday, April 8, 2024 Rest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Hereford, Texas.

Celebration of her life:  11:00 AM, Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the First Baptist Church of Temple.

Pat was born January 23, 1940, in Childress, Texas, the daughter of John Morris Dawson and Dollie Finch Dawson. She was reared in the love of a joyful family and married Richard Lee Clark on July 12, 1958. She graduated from Hereford High School and was active in homemaking activities in school, even traveling to display her sewing craft at the State Fair of Texas.

Always a servant to others, she lovingly stewarded a family of four rowdy boys with patience and grace. One of her favorite sayings regarding parenting was "There are two things you give your children. You give them roots and you give them wings." The Clark boys and all her heirs are blessed with those roots and have flourished in the wings their mother and father fostered…often through great personal sacrifice.

Pat spent the early years of her married life managing that rowdy brood of boys, and yet stress was seldom seen in her countenance. She endured a lot in an all-male household…there were fights, camping trips, lots of dirty laundry, and time in the family boat for fishing and water skiing. The family boat, Patty Ann, was even named after her. She thrived in that world.

She and her beloved Rich were self-employed for many years operating family businesses, where they instilled the value of hard work and excellence in the boys. That heritage is being carried on to the next generations.

Food was Pat's love language! She knew everyone's favorite dishes and always worked to make sure favorites were prepared for a family gathering or church function. Even if it meant twice as much food made it to the table as was needed, everyone walked away full of great food and her abundant love.

She served as the Food Service Director at the Hereford Senior Citizens Center for several years in the early 1990s, where she learned the craft of cooking amazing home-style food for large groups. When Rich's failing health led to a move to Temple in 1995, she became the Food Service Director at First Baptist Church of Temple. There she led a group of faithful volunteers and staff to prepare and serve several meals every week for the church and business community. She flourished in the love of Christ's people in Temple. And they loved her! The family is so grateful to First Baptist Church of Temple for their love and care for Pat and Rich over many years.

She loved country music, Tim Conway's comedy, and watching sports on TV, especially her Aggies and Astros! Her grandchildren have fond memories of seeing her watch movies like "The Apple Dumpling Gang," where she laughed so hard, she cried. She had an infectious laugh that was typically seen only by those closest to her.

Survivors include her four sons, Jason Lee Clark and wife, Sherry of Coppell, Texas, Dawson Lee Clark and wife, Leanne of Liberty Hill, Texas, Mitchell Lee Clark of Keller, Texas, and Preston Lee Clark of Temple, Texas; eight grandchildren, Kristina Bowen and husband, Bryant, Drew Clark and wife, Kaylee, Mary Clark, Amy Carrigan and husband, Kade, Cassidy Tawil and husband, Andrew, Michelle Chonody and husband, Andrew, Cienna Angelleli and husband, David, and Jonathan Clark; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Rich, her parents, and three brothers, Reese Dawson, Charles Dawson, and Darrell Dawson.

As a former employee of a Texas Baptist Church, Pat received beneficial financial support in recent years from the Mission:Dignity program of Guidestone Financial Services. Mission:Dignity's vision is that 'every servant of Christ finishes well,' and that vision was realized in Pat's life with their help. In gratitude for their support, the family would value memorial gifts to www.MissionDignity.org