Eleanor Marie (Schlehofer) Clark

Eleanor Marie Clark was born on July 15, 1942, in Beaver, Oklahoma. She was the third
of four children born to Johnie Schlehofer, and Elnora (Hibbs) Courtney. She grew up on the
family’s farm near Elmwood helping to farm and raise cattle.

Eleanor attended elementary school at the Bethany school house and went to Balko high
school graduating in 1961. She had her oldest son, Ricky, in January 1960. She married Russel
Clark in 1965 and had two more kids, Russell (Rusty) in October 1969 and Donda in July 1971.
They made their home in Liberal Kansas where she worked as a waitress, auctioneer clerk, a
mother, and a wife.

In 1981 she moved back to the family farm with Donda to help her own mother take care
of her stepdad Calvin Courtney and get back into the country style of life she enjoyed. Every
year the family planted a huge garden to can a put away for the winter. A skill her mother passed
down to her and one she later passed down to her own kids and grandkids. Her grandson Shane
learned a lot about canning, cooking, and crafting from her. Just this past December they, along
with her daughter Donda, canned up homemade Bread and Butter Jalapeno’s one of the first
things she taught Shane to can.

She made many friends over the years from her time selling Avon in Beaver County, to
working at Boston’s and Keith’s Corner in Elmwood. Later in life she worked in the kitchen at
the Beaver Nursing home. She loved spending time with her family and friends, spending time
outdoors whether fishing or at a family cookout. She loved listening to Elvis, watching the rodeo,
stock car races, her plants, and plastic canvas. In 2012 she moved to Laverne spending her
summers at the farm until health issues made up her mind to sell her cattle and make Laverne her
full time home until she died.

She is survived by her son Ricky Schlehofer and wife Tammy of Beaver, Oklahoma,
Daughter Donda Goodwin and husband Neal of Laverne, Oklahoma. Grandkids Tisha Baker,
Leslie Spady and husband Terry, Kevin Goodwin and wife Amanda, Larry Goodwin, Shane
Goodwin, Lynda Riggs, and Harry Riggs. Great-Grandkids Jason Nice, Seon Nice, Allyson
Baker, Mikayla Spady, Chris Spady, and many other friends and family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Lois Schlechofer, brothers Johnnie and
Lloyd Schlehofer, and her son Rusty Clark.