Clarkie Jean (Taylor) Atkinson, 87 of Willis passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024. She was born on April 26, 1937, in Galveston, Texas to Faye Weathers Taylor and Bruce Wallace Taylor. Clarkie grew up in Houston Texas, the East End and went to Milby High School. She graduated from Milby in 1955 as Clarkie Atkinson after marrying Charles Ray Atkinson on December 30, 1954, during his Christmas break from the military. Her mother allowed her to marry as long as she stayed home to finish school. Once graduated, she took off to California where Charles Ray served two years stateside during the end of the Korean war.
Then they moved back to Houston, settled in the east side and had a son Michael in 1956 and a daughter, Teri in 1957.
Clarkie went to college to become a school teacher while her children were young and taught homebound students for Pasadena Independent School District until she retired. Clarkie and Charles Ray moved into the beautiful house they built on Lake Conroe in 1997 where they lived for the remainder of their lives.
Clarkie lived a fun, full life as a child and throughout her entire life. Her working mother hired a sweet little black lady named Hattie to tend to the kids while she worked. Hattie was a very polished, refined woman and loved the children as her own. The three people that raised the 4 kids to become successful happy adults were their mother, Hattie and their Auntie Ed. Once married, Clarkie and her family camped, water skied, and traveled together. She was always close to her mother, aunt and siblings. She had many friends, and her hobbies were stained glass and sewing quilts. Through these hobbies is where she made many lifelong friends. Her generosity was astounding. Most mornings, during her entire life, you would find her in her recliner reading her Bible first thing of the day. Her continual prayer was for all to be saved.
Clarkie and Charles Ray enjoyed antique car clubs and traveling in their motorhome. They took their only granddaughter Denalei all over the US. Clarkie was gifted with great knowledge of history, so it was always interesting to have conversations with her. And when her only great grandchild Jacob arrived, she got to help out and always had a close bond with her ‘sweet boy’ as she called him.
She will be so missed by family and friends who are saddened, yet celebrate that she joined Charles Ray, her family, and Christ in Heaven. We are glad her body is healed and she is able to move on from this ‘blink of an eye’ here on Earth into forever eternity with her Maker where we will one day join her. May she rest in peace.
She is survived by her son Michael Atkinson, daughter Teri Walline, grand daughter, Denalei Ross, and great grandson, Jacob Moore as well as one brother, Edward Taylor and one sister-in-law, Lois Atkinson plus nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 69 years Charles Ray Atkinson, parents Bruce and Faye Taylor, brother Bruce Taylor, sister Patricia McKinley and great Aunt Edella Weathers as well as in-laws and their wives Cleon, Leroy, Ira, and Oneal.
Special thanks to Laura (Tupa) Clark for the great care and love she gave to both Clarkie and Charles Ray
Visitation will be held Thursday, September 19, 2024 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Cashner Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Friday, September 20, 2024 at 10:00am in Cashner Colonial Chapel with burial to follow in Clapp Cemetery, Trinity County at 2:00pm. Anyone wishing to participate, the family suggests donations for Samaritans Purse in lieu of flowers.
