Sallie McDade Clark, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend passed away on August 20, 2015. Services will be held on Sunday, August 23, 2015 at 3:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler with Pastor Pike Wisner officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.

Sallie was born on June 18, 1933 in Montgomery, Alabama to J. Wheeler and Martha Carter McDade.

Sallie Clark lived her life with her priorities in the right order and this was demonstrated in the way she loved her Lord. She put her Savior and Redeemer first, followed by her family, her Church family, those who did not know the Lord, His creation which included the environment and all types of animals, especially her beloved dogs.

Sallie earned many nicknames among her friends as a result of her ministries. "Sunshine girl" from her Sunday school activities. She was known to always show up with basket in hand with fruit, chips, crackers, always with a prayer and a word of encouragement. She loved to sing in the sanctuary choir and blessed the congregation with solo performances expressing in song her love for her Lord and his love for us. Sallie or the "flower girl" decorated the church sanctuary for special holidays and events, the fourth floor for banquets and her arrangements were always a beautiful picture of the flowers from her garden. Her last arrangement however was made out of "can goods" to draw attention to the scriptures "when you do this to the least of these". Sallie had a passion for missions. She taught Girls in Action for years. At her last birthday party one of her former mission girls in action, now serving in a foreign country as a missionary, was there and they enjoyed a few minutes together. Sallie's latest nickname was one she wore with a little bit of pride…"the bag lady"…again because it drew attention to the needs of others. The Family Assistance Center is a center created by First Baptist Church to help those in our community. Sallie was there to help. She ministered to those who had physical needs like food and clothes but her purpose was to encourage each and every one who entered those doors with a word from the Lord and to pray for each one. Because of health reasons she has been away for a year but everyone coming still asks about the "little lady Sallie". Whether it was helping serve others at the Family Assistance Center, passing out trays and helping serve with the kitchen team at church or at Christmas serving pie at the Salvation Army her church, family and friends enjoyed her nicknames, but knew each name was spelled "servant".

Mrs. Clark was also involved with various Garden Clubs and the Rose Show during the annual Tyler Rose Festival. She was the ultimate hostess and hosted countless family, church, Garden Club and lake meetings at her home. Sallie and her late husband Jack were married 57 years and shared a love of travel and took many trips together.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Jack W. Clark, in 2009 and her son-in-law, Bill Bell in 2013.

She is also survived by her loving family including sons, Bill Clark and wife Lynn of Frisco, Joe. W. Clark and wife Amy of Tyler and daughter Cherri Bell of Monticello, WI.; grandchildren, Ben and Terra Bell of Huffman, Justin and Rebekah Clark and Heather Clark of Tyler; great-grandchildren, Brady Bell, Johnny Clark and Isabella Clark; brother, Joe McDade of Montgomery, AL and a host of friends.

Pallbearers will be Ben Bell, Justin Clark, Larry Corley, Don Davidsion, Eitel Hahn and Robert Arnet.

Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Humphries, Jerald Debenport, Bob Finley, Troy Nokes, Sam Cobb, Steve White, Don Simonton, Jody Williamson and Milton Arnold.

Visitation is scheduled Sunday, August 23, 2015, from 2:00 to 3:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy., Tyler.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Family Assistance Center, First Baptist Church, 301 W. Ferguson, Tyler, TX 75702 or Bethesda Health Clinic, P. O. Box 1999, Tyler, TX 75710.

Published in the MontgomeryAdvertiser.com on Aug. 23, 2015.