Susan Clayton Stark

Susan Clayton Stark, age 94, of Hannibal, MO passed away at 8:55 am Sunday, November 24, 2024, at Maple Lawn Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Friday, November 29, 2024, at the Smith Funeral Home & Chapel.  Rev. Corey King will preside over the service.  Burial will follow in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Visitation celebrating Susan's life will be held 10:00 am until time of service Friday at the Smith Funeral Home & Chapel.

Susan was born March 19, 1930 at Hannibal Levering Hospital to Geo. D. Clayton, Jr. and Marietta Gentry Clayton.  Her grandparents were Richard H. and Annie Neal Gentry and Geo. D. and Mary Mason Clayton.  Susan graduated from Hannibal High School and Stephens College in Columbia, MO.  She was married to Albert L. Rendlen and later married Lloyd S. Stark, Jr. from Louisiana, MO.

Survivors include her daughter, Susan Rendlen Williams, brother, Judge Robert M. Clayton II; nephews, Judge Robert M. Clayton III and Charles Groves Clayton, great nephew, Chase Clayton and grandchildren, Marietta L. Rendlen (Justin Novinger) and Elizabeth A. Rhymer (Austin); and great-granddaughter, Frances Lorraine Rhymer.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Geo. D. and Marietta Gentry Clayton; son, Albert Rendlen, Jr.; George D. Clayton III; nephews, George D. Clayton IV, George D. Clayton V and David Nicoll Clayton; grandson, Clayton Scott Williams; son-in-law, Scott B. Williams and sister-in-law, Frances Price "Nicky" Clayton.

Susan was a writer and photographer for the Louisiana Mo Press Journal and she also wrote for the Hannibal Courier Post and Salt River Journal.  She compiled four books of regional and family recipes named "Pantry Patch" Work, "Hometown Heritage Recipes",  "Rivertown Recipes"  and "Friends and Family".  Her talent of compiling recipe books also went along with her amazing cooking.  She was a member of the Hannibal Arts Council and Raintree Arts Council.  She served on the Hannibal Park Board, Mark Twain Sesquicentennial Commission and was a member of the Missouri Press Women's Association.

Susan enjoyed annual family trips to Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Florida.  She was a strong advocate for her hometown and worked at the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau as a Department Specialist for many years.  She served as a Girl Scout leader for a group of girls from Hannibal High School and flew to New York for training at Girl Scout Headquarters.  Susan and her children flew to Hawaii to visit her aunt, Virginia Clayton Gentry, who taught at Kamehameha School.  They visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial, the Mauna Loa volcano site and toured the island attractions.

Pallbearers will be Judge Robert Clayton III, Corey King, Chase Clayton, Dennis Ellis, Greg Addison and Larry Chamberlin.

Honorary pallbearers will be Diane Addison and Chuck Clayton.

Memorial contributions may be made to WEe Care at First Christian Church of Hannibal, MO or the Hannibal Arts Council , in care of Smith Funeral Home & Chapel.

Online condolences may be made to the family and video tribute viewed on Susan's memorial page at www.smithfuneralhomeandchapel.com