Lydia Clark

MORTON – Lydia Margaret Clark, born April 13, 1934, in Morton, Illinois, passed away peacefully on February 21, in Peoria, Illinois.

She was the beloved wife of James Edward Clark, whom she married in 1956 after a high school romance. They shared a devoted marriage until his passing in 2017.

Lydia was the proud mother of James Clark and Angela Clark, grandmother to seven grandchildren and great-grandmother to seven great-grandchildren. She was also one of the well-known "Springer sisters" of Morton, a distinction she carried with pride throughout her life. She remained especially close to her five sisters and, after returning to Morton later in life, cherished the time she was able to spend with them.

In 1960, Lydia and her husband began a journey that would take them far from their hometown. Over the years, they lived in Newark, New Jersey; Poughkeepsie and Rensselaer, New York; North Billerica, Massachusetts; Spencerport and Canandaigua, New York; St. Thomas, Ontario; Arlington Heights, Illinois; Waterville, Plain City, and Hilliard, Ohio; and Cocoa, Florida, before Lydia eventually returned to Morton.

A faithful member of the Apostolic Church in Morton, Lydia remained active in her church community throughout her life. In her younger years, she enjoyed weekly games of bridge. She loved reading humorous books, traveling throughout the United States and Great Britain, and faithfully watching Wheel of Fortune. In later years, she found pleasure in jigsaw puzzles and watching birds from her backyard.

Lydia was a devoted mother who enjoyed sewing clothes for her children when they were young. She was also a talented baker, especially known for her Christmas cookies and cakes, and she enjoyed cooking for her family. Described by some as a "classy lady," she combined warmth with grace and a quiet sense of humor. She was known to gently lament that many neighborhoods in Morton had no sidewalks - an observation offered with characteristic candor and affection for her hometown.

Lydia's life was defined by faith, family, loyalty, and the simple joys that made a house a home. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, February 26, 2026, at Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Runners' Association.

Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.

To leave an online condolence for the family visit www.knappjohnson.com.