Delores “Dee” Clark, of North Riverside, died July 30, 2023 at 92 years of age.
Delores was born to Georgia and Alex Fairley in Roberts, Illinois. She attended a one-room school in Roberts, graduated from Roberts Township High School in 1948 and West Suburban School of Nursing in 1951.
She returned to college as an empty-nester and graduated from the College of St. Francis in 1982 with a B.S. in public health.
Dee married James Clark in 1953. She worked at Hines Hospital, Amoco Research, the Medical Surgical Department at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet, and — for 16 years — at the Grundy County Health Department. Dee became a pilot in 1971.
Dee was active in her church and volunteered at the Rialto Square Theatre for 15 years. She enjoyed crafts, sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, gardening, and most of all spending time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was a member of the International Flying Nurses association; VFW Post 1824 Auxiliary in Glen Ellyn; and the Ninety-Nines, an international organization for women pilots.
Dee was preceded in death by Jim, her husband of 65 years. She is survived by their three sons, Michael (Anita Houck), Jay (Janell) and Tim (Tara); nine grandchildren, Justin (Lauren), Jaclyn McKay (Alan), Jason (Aleksandra), Jenna (Kevin) Emery, Caitlin, Haven, Joshua, Caleb, and Hope; and nine great-grandchildren, Mila, Adaiah, Harvey, Seth, Grant, Peter, Brooks, Reese, and Rhet. She is also survived by brothers Earl Fairley and Merle Fairley (Cathy).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to BSF international at BSFInternational.com, Conference Point Center at lgyc.org or Roberts Gym, ℅ Debbie Burns, 106 W. Weldon St., Roberts, IL 60962.
A memorial service will be held at Calvary Memorial Church of Oak Park, 931 Lake St., on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m.
