Cheryl Lynn Clark

1946 - 2023

Cheryl Lynn (Dunlap) Clark, age 76, of DuBois, died Saturday, July 8, 2023, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born Sept. 14, 1946, in Kissimmee, Florida. Cheryl grew up in Punxsutawney. She was a graduate of Punxsutawney High School in 1964. She went on to pursue an elementary education degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1968.
Cheryl married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Clark, in 1969. They had two children, Nicole MacFarland and husband Michael of Canonsburg, and Derek Clark of Robinson Township. Her children recall there was never a sporting event, school function or special occasion where their mom was not present or their biggest cheerleader and supporter.
Following graduation from IUP, Cheryl and Jerry continued to be active alumni, including creating the Jerry and Cheryl Clark Boardwalk Bowl scholarship, which benefits student-athletes in the IUP football program. Cheryl was also very patriotic and was a founding sponsor of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County.
After her college graduation, Cheryl taught in the Punxsutawney School District and at Applewild Academy in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, before landing her long-term teaching career as an elementary educator in the DuBois Area School District. Cheryl taught for 25 years, ending her tenure as a sixth-grade science teacher at the DuBois Middle School.
Being from Punxsutawney, it's no surprise that she had a love for Punxsutawney Phil. She had a large array of Phil beanie babies and other memorabilia. Her students, whether they wanted to know or not, were well educated on the history of Groundhog Day.
One of Cheryl's greatest joys in life was her granddog, Koda. She loved taking him for walks, giving him belly rubs and treats and telling stories about him to anyone who was interested. Koda was her shadow anytime they were together, and she loved his famous nightly bed turndown services.
Cheryl was a Girl Scout leader for years and enjoyed teaching young girls important life skills. She spent many years as a youth soccer coach. She would often talk about her relationships with the kids on her teams and how proud she was to see them grow and improve. Another proud moment was when she was part of the coaching staff for the inaugural DuBois High School girls' soccer team.
Cheryl was a standout athlete before Title IX. She could outthrow and outhit any boy on the baseball field as a kid. She would often tuck her hair up under her baseball cap so they could not tell her she couldn't play. Her love of sports as a kid continued into her adult life. She spent years participating in summer softball and volleyball leagues. She was an avid college basketball fan, with her favorites being the Duke Blue Devils and University of Tennessee Lady Vols. With her son's connection to the University of Nebraska, she also became a fan of the Nebraska Women's Volleyball team. For years, she would have family members call her to help them pick their NCAA basketball bracket choices. She loved the game so much that she even attended several women's and men's Final Four tournaments.
In addition to her husband and children, she is survived by a sister, Joan Reasinger and husband Joseph of Pittsburgh, sister-in-law Barb Dunlap of Punxsutawney, and multiple nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Hazel Dunlap, and brother James Dunlap.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 10 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, with Msgr. Richard Siefer as celebrant.
Burial will be in Good Shepherd Cemetery, Monroeville.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages a donation to the Dementia Society of America (www.dementiasociety.org/) or the Friends of Flight 93 (https://www.flight93friends.org/).