Gayle Burke Clark

Gayle Burke Clark succumbed to a brief illness on November 18, 2014. Born in Ruston, Louisiana and raised in Little Rock, she attended Little Rock Central High, the University of Arkansas where she pledged Delta Delta Delta, Arkansas Tech University where she was on the 1959 homecoming court, and UALR. She was predeceased by her parents, Louise Barham Burke Smith and Benjie Lewellyn Burke, and her son, L. Burke Clark in 1982. She is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, George B. Clark; son, G. Barnes Clark II (Melissa); daughters, Cynthia G. Davison (Dale) and Caroline L. Rieger (David); and grandchildren, George and Burke Davison, Michael (Hannah) and Elizabeth Clark and Barrett Rieger. Gayle was an avid bibliophile, a crossword puzzle aficionada and exquisite Southern cook. She was a loving devoted mother who delighted in reading such stories as "Beowulf" to her enthralled children. She loved playing cards and was always up for a board game on snow days, insisting on being the "shoe" in Monopoly. She enjoyed sports, specifically football, and was a loyal Razorback fan. Gayle was one of the founding members of the Julie Herman Tuesday Morning Book Club that has been meeting for 46 years. She was a volunteer in many activities, including a literacy program in the Little Rock Public Schools and S.C.A.N. (Suspected Child Abuse & Neglect). She was a long time Sunday School teacher and youth group chaperone at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church. One of Gayle's proudest achievements was earning her Bachelor of Arts in rhetoric and writing from UALR in 1986, where she also volunteered as an English tutor and received the Gladys K. Brown Award given to the graduating senior majoring in English with the highest GPA in English courses. Only a few will understand, but it should be mentioned that the meaning of WWDA remains a secret. A service will be held at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church on Friday, November 21 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 2200 Kavanaugh, Little Rock, Ark. 72205. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., (501) 224-2200. Gayle's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.