Diana Lynn Dickerson Clark was born in Anderson, Indiana on December 29, 1953, to Eugene Dickerson and Opal Cole Dickerson. She went home to be with her Lord and Savior when she passed away at home in McKinleyville on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 2:45 a.m. Her mother, Opal, husband Pastor Chuck Clark and their son, Benjamin were with her.

“Diane,” or “Di”, as she preferred to be called, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March of 2018, after dealing with several symptoms for nearly a year. She had many chemo treatments along with the Whipple surgery at Sutter Hospital in San Francisco. She endured every procedure without complaint and her lifelong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was evident throughout the four years of symptoms and illness. She and good friends Matt and Vicky Larsen planted the large Wesleyan Memorial Garden and Di spent many hours working in the soil and lovingly cultivating various plants and flowers.

Di served faithfully for nearly 50 years as a pastor’s wife. She sang with her husband and in various groups and choirs with her beautiful alto voice. She and Chuck pastored churches in Ridgway and Oil City, Penn. They served churches in Huntington, Geneva and Fort Wayne, Indiana, Daytona Beach, Florida, San Manuel, Arizona and McKinleyville. The past 17 years she served faithfully as First Lady at the Wesleyan Church of the Redwoods, and in spite of her illness she never relinquished her duties. She was an expert in organizing a quick meal for guests at the parsonage or she could organize the church ladies to prepare for a special gathering at church. Though often tired, she never complained and never faltered.

Di grew up in the small town of Summitville, Indiana where she attended the local school. While she was a senior at Madison Grant High School she met Chuck Clark through Diane’s older sister Genie Dickerson, at Frankfort Wesleyan College in Frankfort, Indiana. After their first date, Chuck told his fellow dorm-mates that he had finally met the girl he was going to marry. After just six weeks of dating, he popped the question and she said “yes”! She graduated HS in May and they were married in the Summitville Wesleyan Church on October 16, 1971. Diane was a joyful gal, and lived life to the fullest in spite of her illness.

Di is survived by her husband, Chuck and their three children, Dr. Kristine Clark, of Rochester, New York, Scott and Jennifer Clark of Avondale, Arizona and Benjamin Clark, Intercultural Studies student at Hobe Sound Bible College, Hobe Sound, Florida. She is survived by Scott’s children, Nathan, Harley and Bastian Clark.

Diane’s father, Gene, preceded her in death in 1991. She is survived by her mother, Opal Dickerson, older sister Genie Dickerson, younger sister Anita Ballard and husband Leroy, and brother Steve Dickerson and wife Brenda. She loved her many nieces and nephews.

We are very grateful to the wonderful nurses and staff at the St. Joseph Oncology center and for Hospice of Humboldt and the wonderful care by Adriana, Kara, Rebecca and Steve. A very special Thanks goes to special friend Jill Taillon who was there for Diane for most of her care….Thanks to Linda Drouilliard, Bonnie Acosta, Vickie Childress, Charlotte Jacobson, Penny Jacobson, Maile Cortez, Vee Sorenson, Lisa Buck and so many others who brought meals to us when we were too exhausted to prepare our own. To anyone whose name we missed, please accept our apology!

Many thanks to the church board and leaders, Bob Buck, Lou Agliolo and Associate Pastor Doug Brower for taking care of the needs of the church. We are also grateful to Jean Durbin and Tracie Ahlberg for helping rehome Diane’s pets.

Suggested memorials to the Wesleyan Church of the Redwoods, Hospice of Humboldt or to a pet shelter/rescue of your choice.

An outdoor Worship Service was held on Sunday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m. in the Wesleyan Memorial Garden, 1645 Fischer Avenue, McKinleyville.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Diana Clark’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.