February 28, 1944-September 7, 2013 OKLAHOMA CITY Ernestine Hill Clark passed away in Oklahoma City on September 7 after a short and intense illness. Ernestine retired from the Metropolitan Library System as Director of Development in 2009 after having served in various capacities for 33 years. Ernestine is survived by her son, Brian K. Clark, of Bellevue, Washington, his wife Pascale, grandchildren Elliot and Alice, sisters Helen Hill Fry and Nancy Hill Lippens, partner Pete Burga, and close friends and relatives too numerous to mention.Born in Price, Utah, February 28, 1944, Ernestine spent her formative years in New Mexico and moved to Oklahoma in 1960. Ernestine held the Bachelor of Arts from Oklahoma State University and the Master of Arts from the University of Oklahoma. In addition to her work in the Metro Library System, Ernestine also served as an English teacher in the Oklahoma City Public School System and was an agent with Prudential Insurance. At the Metro Library System, Ernestine was instrumental in building the Friends of the Library book sale into national prominence. Ernestine was a long-time and very active member of Mayflower Congregational Church UCC and served on its Board of Trustees.When the Murrah Building was bombed in 1995, Ernestine had just turned away from the window in her Downtown Library office when the window was blown in from the blast. She was caught up in the horrific event and lost friends and acquaintances who worked in the Murrah Building. She recovered in part through journaling and writing, volunteering at the National Memorial, and traveling to Cameroon as part of a group to help weave international bonds of friendship between communities which had undergone adversity.Ernestine loved family, friends, books, music, sunrises and full moons, movies, plays, animals, and flowers. Appearing to be very public, she often preferred solitude. She was a person of much laughter, but also quiet prayers. Her defining characteristics were both her fierce independence and her caring for others, demonstrated to countless individuals in need.A celebration of Ernestine's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at the Mayflower Congregational Church UCC, 3901 NW 63rd Street in Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, please give to the Ernestine Hill Clark Smart Start Foundation within the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, to the Mayflower Congregational Church UCC, the Friends of the Library at the Metropolitan Library System, or to a charity of your choice.


Published in The Oklahoman on September 11, 2013