Obituary of Dolores Cone Clark

Dolores “Dodie” Cone Clark, 93, passed away September 28, 2016, surrounded by her family in Sugar Land, Texas. She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 51 years, Howard Russell Clark, Sr., and her second husband and singing partner Jerry Somers. Dodie is survived by her sister Mary Virginia McDonough of Thousand Oaks, California, her son Rusty Clark and wife Connie, daughter Candi Leonetti and husband Damon, daughter Christi Chrisman and husband Bill, her precious grandchildren, Jeremy Clark and wife Kristi, Casey Leonetti and husband Erik Cooper, Josh Chrisman, Laura Leonetti, and Mandy Chrisman, and great-grand¬children Caden, Callie, and Cessa Clark. Dolores was born in Nixon, Texas to Lorena and Anson Cone. She often spoke of her idyllic childhood surrounded by her parents, sister, and wonderful grandparents. While growing up, Dodie took dance lessons, piano lessons, and elocution classes. She became a concert pianist and soloist with a lovely contralto voice. Dolores received her Bachelor’s degree in music from Baylor University. Later, she attended the University of Houston and received her Master’s in Education. She spent two summers as a soloist, studying music at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. “Mrs. Clark” taught choral music in HISD for 30 years and loved it! She loved students from elementary to high school and the feeling was mutual. Positive, supportive, funny, and loving, she encouraged every child to participate and she made each one feel valued and integral to the program. Mrs. Clark and her students were so entertaining they were asked to perform at the Texas State Teacher’s Convention as well as several different state conventions and the National Teacher’s Convention in St. Louis. She felt honored to be asked. Her high school choirs performed 12 to 15 programs a year. She set high expectations for the performances she directed, concerts and musicals, and her students rose to the challenge. She was beloved by her students, a legend among teachers and administrators in Houston. Years later, her students still take pride in having been in one of Mrs. Clark’s choirs. After retiring she was a popular substitute teacher in Fort Bend schools. Dolores was a member of Mu Phi Epsilon National Teacher’s Sorority for 45 years. She was proud to be a member of Delta Kappa Gamma for many years. Dodie also enjoyed performing. She enjoyed her role in the Music Man production at Theatre, Inc. Later in life, she sang in the Silvertones, a senior choir, and played the piano for her church family at the Terrace – she thought of it as her ministry. Dodie loved the Lord and her family most of all. Her husband, Howard, and her children Rusty, Candi, and Christi were her life. She was so proud of them. Sunday, October 2nd, at Sugar Land Baptist Church, a visitation will be held at 2:00 pm, a funeral service at 3:00 pm, and reception following. She will be buried in her hometown of Nixon, Texas, in a private family ceremony. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice.