Patricia Hartsell Clark

Patricia Hartsell Clark, 82, of Morganton, NC passed away peacefully on Friday, October 20, 2023.

Born in Cabarrus County, NC on May 8, 1941, she is the daughter of the late Hal Craig Hartsell and Dora Marie Faggart Hartsell.

Patricia lived a life of Giving, Sharing, and Love as friend, wife, mother, Nana, educator / teacher, and emulator of the Biblical Golden Rule. On many levels Patricia gave her heart-felt attention to whatever task lay ahead — encouraging serious thought to consequences — be it as simple as Meals On Wheels. At other times, if needed, she applied her skilled hands as an award-winning master seamstress to speak during events as a Lakota Indian or the “Numeracy Woman.” In other words, Patricia gave her all, her Person, to those opportunities before her.

Now, for those of you unfamiliar with Burke County 4-H, Patricia gave her Head to clear thinking; her Heart to greater loyalty; her Hands to service; and her Health / Person to better the world we live in — along with newly gathered WPCC ladies in 1970 to announce the first Earth Day events for Burke County. These chosen paths help to explain how Patricia became Burke County’s 4-H Volunteer of the Year in 1989 and a few years later was inducted into North Carolina’s 4-H Achievement Hall of Fame.

In following decades, she joined local teachers in Alpha Nu to eventually become an officer of Eta State, a branch of Delta Kappa Gamma International. For many years she supported Black Mt. Home for Children & Families to eventually join its Board of Directors. While always an active member with our First Presbyterian Women, Patricia eventually became moderator for the Presbytery of Western N.C. Presbyterian Women, and later, the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic Presbyterian Women. It is at this juncture Patricia’s life follows a new path as health issues began to drain her Person, her hands, her heart — but not her Love — which her family felt as she slipped into a blissful, peaceful sleep.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Larry Richard Clark; children, Steven Clark (Terrie), Alan Clark, and Susan Clark Smith;; grandchildren, Samuel Clark (Kate), Houston Clark (Talara), Ava Clark, Emme Clark, Alexander Smith, Caldwell Smith, Elaine Smith, and Charlotte Smith; great-grandchildren, Lakelyn Clark, Lacy Clark, and Claire Clark; brother, Craig Hartsell (June); daughter-in-law, Cathy Clark; other family, David Smith, and a number of nieces, nephews, and extended family. In addition to her parents, Patricia was preceded in death by a brother, David Hartsell.

A celebration of Patricia’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 28, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. John Hagmann officiating. The family will greet friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Arbor Day Foundation, shop.arborday.org/commemorative; Black Mt. Home for Children, www.blackmountainhome.org/donate/memorials/; The Patricia Elaine Clark Endowment at North Carolina Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Foundation, Foundation Treasurer, 1112 Anchor Court, Raleigh, NC 27615; or First Presbyterian Women, www.fpcmorganton.org/give.html

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.