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Mary Frazier Clark (’44), a pioneering trustee of Abilene Christian University, died Oct. 20, 2018, in Abilene at age 95 following a short illness.

Born Feb. 1, 1923, in Hockley County, Texas, she grew up in Sundown and graduated from Levelland High School in 1940.

She majored in education at ACU, where she was a member of the “W” Club, Prickly Pear staff and the Melpomenean Players.

For three years after earning her degree, she taught school in the Sundown and Levelland ISDs.

She married John D. “Skeet” Clark on June 14, 1946, and the self-employed rancher died in 1977. The Clarks lived in Rising Star for many years, and were named Rising Star Farm Family for 1969. She spent most of her adult life as a homemaker who was active in the PTA (1953-76) for Rising Star ISD, including as president, and she was a trustee of Girlstown U.S.A. in Whiteface, Texas.

In 2005 she was named Region 4 Absentee Rancher of the year for Texas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

At Abilene Christian she was a member of the Hope for the Future Steering Committee, Women for ACU and the university’s National Development Council (1979-84). She also received the Estes Award in 2002 for her contributions to Abilene Christian Schools.

In 1984 she became the first woman named to ACU’s Board of Trustees, and served from 1993-2007 on the University Council.

“Mary Clark was an exceptional woman by any measure,” said chancellor Dr. Royce Money (’64), who served as president during her long trusteeship. “As Jesus did, she went about doing good and encouraging others. She also was a good businesswoman, and she shared the fruit of her work generously with many others. Her voice was the voice of wisdom and conviction, and she did not hesitate to speak up and to participate fully in the ongoing mission of the university she loved.”

Clark was preceded in death by John, her husband of 30 years; her parents, Walter G. and Mintie (Reed) Frazier; and a brother, James Walter Frazier Sr. (’51).

Among survivors are three sons, Frazier Clark (’69), Jack Clark and Bob Clark; a daughter, Marilyn (Clark ’80) Martin Coates; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

— Ron Hadfield

Oct. 23, 2018