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Mildred Lou Clark, a beloved daughter of Lincoln County, went home to be with her Lord on August 24, 2026, at the age of 78. She was the cherished daughter of George Henry and Thelma Stoneman and was raised in the mountain community she loved so dearly. Lincoln County was not only where Millie grew up-it was the place her heart always belonged. As she often said, “My mountains will always be my home.”
As a child, Millie cherished the time she spent with her cousins and the family who surrounded her. After graduating from high school in 1966, she married her high school sweetheart and began a family. Their life together took them away from New Mexico on many adventures before she and her three girls eventually returned home to the mountains. From that point forward, raising her daughters became her priority. She set aside her own dreams to give them a loving home and help them grow into strong, independent women. From Sunday drives through the mountains to eating Chinese food around the ironing board, spending quality time with her girls was always important.
Millie was blessed to find love again and gained a son who became a treasured addition to the family. Later, she found lasting love with Harold Clark, and welcomed five more wonderful children into her life; growing a family built on love rather than blood alone. She held her family’s traditions sacred and never missed a family function, no matter how big or small.
To know Mildred was to know family. She never met a stranger, and her heart was always open. Whether sharing a meal or welcoming someone into her home, she made everyone feel loved and included. Her friendships were deeply treasured and filled with laughter, love, and many special memories.
In her free time, she could be found tending to her backyard, helping out at the restaurant, watching Days of Our Lives, reading devotionals, and playing spirited games of Hot Dice or Pollyanna. She found joy in the simple things, especially when those moments were shared with the people she loved.
Through it all, Mildred worked hard to provide for her family, holding a variety of jobs over the years-from folding patterns at McCall’s to building a career with the State of New Mexico. She was always dedicated, dependable, and quick to serve others.
Above all, Mildred loved her God, her family, her mountain community, and the people around her. She never hesitated to give that love freely and joyfully.
Mildred was reunited in death with her beloved husband, Harold Clark. She leaves behind a legacy carried on by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. Her greatest legacy is the love she poured into her family and the countless lives she touched along the way.
Services celebrating her life will be held Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Gateway Church, 415 Sudderth Dr., Ruidoso, NM 88345, followed by a reception at the church.
She will be profoundly missed and forever remembered with love.
To know her was to love her, and to love her was to be loved.
