Juanita Clark

Juanita Butler Clark
Born:  Monday, August 5, 1929
Died:  Sunday, June 18, 2017
Juanita, “Nita” as she was usually called, was born August 5, 1929, to Ralph H. Butler and Gladys (Buttars) Butler in Long Beach, California.  She was the second child born to them.  She grew up mostly in California, but spent some time with her family and grandparents in Idaho.
She met the Charlie & Maggie Clark family in California during World War II.  Once the War was over, she was there to meet their fifth child, William – a coming home soldier.  Bill called her “the love of his life”.  They married on January 15, 1946 in San Diego, California.  From there they moved to Hereford, Texas to run a farm and set up their first home together.
To this union two daughters were born, Patricia Anne in Texas and Sandra Jean in California.
Bill worked much of his life in the oil and gas industry, so the family moved from Texas, to California, back to Texas and back to California again.  From there they moved to the northeast part of Colorado in 1954, and on to the southwestern corner of Colorado – Cortez to finally settle in 1958.  Nita stayed home as a wife and mother most of this time.  She was a wonderful seamstress and made most of the family’s clothes.  She also crocheted and knitted.  She knitted a beautiful 3 piece suit for herself.  She made jackets for Bill and herself through the years.  School clothes were sewn and ready each fall.  One spring a beautiful prom dress was envisioned by Sandra, designed and sewn by Nita.  In later years, she crocheted many baby sweaters and booties for the grandchildren and knitted sweater jackets as the grandchildren grew older.
She and Bill spent time camping and traveling, one year they drove the highway from the northern US border, through Canada, up to Alaska.  They enjoyed a full summer in that beautiful state.
Finally, in 2010, Nita and Bill moved to Layton, Utah, to be nearer their family.  That was to be their last residence.
On Sunday, Father’s Day, Nita went home to her Heavenly Father and back to Bill.
Juanita was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bill, his parents, all his siblings and their spouses, her parents, her oldest sister Virginia M. Frame, her only brother Franklin D. Butler, and one great granddaughter, Samantha Marie Cozad.
Left to mourn are her daughters Patricia (Jack) Henry, Lyons GA; Sandie Knippers, Evanston WY.  Her favorite Aunt  LaJean Seager of UT.  Her three remaining sisters, Madolyn Boatman and Shirley Murphy of Citrus Heights CA and Carol Droppleman of Washoe Valley NV.  Her grandchildren, John Cozad, Aurora CO; Mike (Cheryl) Cozad, IL; Richard (Desiree) Knippers, Evanston WY & Springdale WA; Rick Cozad, IL; Christopher Cozad, OH, and her only granddaughter, and care giver, Crystal Knippers, Layton UT, 3 great grandsons and 1 remaining great granddaughter.
Grave side services will be held 11 am, Friday, June 23, 2017, at the Evanston City Cemetery, Evanston WY.  She will be laid to rest, as she was in life – next to her husband.
The family would like to give special thanks to Suzy’s Senior Companionship Services, Quail Meadow Assisted Living & Legacy Home Health and Hospice for the loving care they gave to Juanita during her last years.  We would also like to give a special “thank you” to Fritz Coleman for always being there when we needed help with Mom.
We also want to give a special note of thanks and gratitude to her granddaughter Crystal for always being there, for taking such good care of her grandmother, for having grandma live in her home for two years and finding the best living facility for her once she could no longer be kept safe at home.  {Grandma was truly blessed by your love & care}