Mira Beth Wilson

Mira Beth Clark Wilson (a.k.a. "Pete"), a longtime former resident of Fort Worth, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2014, at about 3:15 p.m. Central Time, at a hospice in Flower Mound. She was 86 years and 11 months old. She finally emerged victorious in her seven-year battle with Alzheimer's with the courage she possessed and the dignity she deserved. Mira, or Pete as her family called her, was born in Denton on Aug. 16, 1927, to her parents, John G. Clark and Valera Barnes Clark. After attending Denton High School and North Texas College, she married Lloyd C. Wilson from Trenton. She also married into the Wilson clan, but that is another story. In 1953 she gave birth to her son, Mark Louis Wilson, and after a series of brief moves the family settled into the southwest part of Fort Worth, known as Wedgwood, where she lived for 50 years. Pete had many passions in her life. She loved gardening, creative and artistic hobbies which included painting, cats and watching the movies of her youth, especially "Gone With The Wind." She also took an active role in her son's school activities as he attended Bruce Shulkey, Wedgwood Junior High and finally Southwest High School, class of 1972. Perhaps more importantly, the Wilson family loved (and loves) the Dallas Cowboys. Pete attended two Super Bowls and watched the Cowboys every time they were on TV. A true story: as Alzheimer's started to rob her of memories of her youth and names of close family members, she greeted her son one day at the hospice and asked "When is Tony Romo going to get healthy again?" You cut a Wilson and you get silver and blue. Mira loved her local friends known as "The Dirty Dozen" and their various outings and she often recalled with happiness the business trips she went on with her husband and the many friends she met on those experiences. Yet above all she loved her family immensely and cherished the remembrances of those times. She talked about happy memories of her first cousins and growing up with her Dad, Mom and sister in Denton during the War years. It is impossible of course to put forth all the love into a couple of paragraphs, but those of us who knew and loved her will carry her memories forever. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Survivors: She is survived by her son, Mark L. Wilson and wife, Tammy, and their children, John and Kaley of Flower Mound. Pete took also great pride in spending time with her oldest grandchild, Robert Thomas Wilson, who is now married to Miranda Wilson and has a daughter named Scarlett (named naturally enough from the lead character in "Gone With the Wind") who live in Keller. Pete often said she had two sons, Mark and Robert. We spent many weekends together in the 1980s having the type of fun that creates indelible memories upon your soul. Pete is also survived by her sister, Verda Piott of Denton; and her niece, Wendy Whitney and her husband, Ross; and her nephew, John Piott and his wife, Chris; along with all of their extended family. As her son, I do want to share one story about the end of her life on this mortal world. As an engineer, avid fan of history and science - I must admit that I find the biblical world at times incongruent with my "observed" world. When I was leaving her bedside on Sunday, I asked the hospice nurse what her experience indicated the length of time she had left - "about 2-3 days, maybe a week," she said. On the way out the door I saw a picture of my beloved grandfather, John G. Clark. I put my hand on the frame and said with love, "Help her, John, please come get her." I barely had time to drive home and they called and said you better come back. Pete passed less that 45 minutes after I asked her father for help. I know that at least for my mother, she is in heaven, laughing in her Daddy's arms. Funeral: 10 a.m. Thursday at Laurel Land Chapel of Chimes in Fort Worth. Burial: Laurel Land Memorial Park of Fort Worth.