Alice Norton Clark

Alice Norton Clark, age 100, of Grants Pass, died February 9, 2023 at an adult foster home.

Alice May Norton was born in Nevada City, California on April 16, 1922 – on Easter Sunday during a snowstorm. She was the third of five children born to Alice Mae and Reuben Elmer Norton. She lived all her growing up years in Nevada County – the heart of the Gold Country. Although the family was not well off, especially during the Depression, her parents were resourceful people and created a home rich in love and security. The children enjoyed playing in the woods and creek on the family’s property. Her grandchildren later had many happy summer memories there as well.

Alice was a good student, skipping a grade in elementary school, and graduating from Nevada City High School. She went on to earn a BA at UC Berkeley, waiting on tables to help pay her way. Following her college graduation in 1943 she became an elementary school teacher under a wartime emergency credential. She taught in schools in the central valley of California, in the rough Hunter’s Point area of San Francisco (often overseeing a class with as many as 50 students), and back home in Nevada City. She often spoke of her belief that teaching was a calling, every bit as important as a call to the ministry.

In 1946 she married Dr. Robert Clark, who she had met at Cal. They were together for nearly 60 years until his death in 2006. They lived in New York for 6 years while Bob got advanced medical training, and their three children were born there. The family returned to California in 1955 where Bob joined the anesthesiology practice at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, where he remained until his retirement.

Alice was a lifelong Christian, accepting Christ as her savior at a youth camp at age 17. Her “life verse” from that moment on was Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. She was active in her Redwood City church, establishing and leading a chapter of Pioneer Girls, teaching junior high Sunday School, co-leading small group Bible studies, serving on various boards, and mentoring many women in need of encouragement.

In her 50’s Alice went back to college and earned a Masters degree in counseling, all while caring for her mother and mother-in-law in their last days. She pursued her new career for many years.

Following Bob’s death, Alice moved to Grants Pass, Oregon to live closer to her son and daughter. She lived independently up until last year when her eyesight failed and she broke her hip in a fall. The family came together in April of 2022 to celebrate her 100th birthday. She is the last of her siblings (and spouses.) She is survived by her three children: Barbara McCandless (Mike), Joan Henshall, and Richard Clark (Kim); seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Alice was a devoted mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to many. She will be dearly missed.

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