Monday, January 1, 2001
Teresa Ann Bravo Clark was born to Alejandro Rios Bravo and Carmelita Pina Bravo in a two-room house within the Simon’s Brick Yard in Los Angeles, California on June 6, 1931. She attended St. Anne’s High School in Santa Monica. She began working in aircraft assembly at McDonnell Douglas in 1956 and retired from Hughes Aircraft in 1994. She married Dale Everett Clark on September 29, 1957. She was the proud mother of ten children Dale Nicholas, Michael Weir, Rodney Mark, Gail Teresa (Ted Sanchez), Mathew Andrew (Sharon Gorey), Danielle Monica (Brian Holmon), Yvette Marie (Jude Hauer), Desiree Antoinette (Richard Bain II), Parris Luke, and Parrish John. She was proud to say that all of her children were born in California, having insisted that an ambulance drive her from Nevada to Bishop, California for Parrish’s birth. This marauding brood shared many adventures. They lived happily for a time in Santa Monica, Simi Valley, and at the Red Rock Ranch in Santa Susannah, California. They dabbled in various ventures including raising rabbits, goats, and rattlesnakes. In 1970, Dale pursued a career in silver mining and moved most of the family in an old truck named Nellie to Tonopah, Nevada. With creativity and love they struggled through the tough Nevada Winters, and the equally extreme Summers, wherein everyone would get a very short haircut, and relief could be found in frequent trips to the nearby springs. Entertainment was found in explorations through the old mines around the town where Teresa and the children would gather turquoise, colored bottles, brass and other treasures. They returned to California in 1974. In the Summer of 2010 she moved to Portland, Oregon where her daughters Yvette and Desiree lived. Shortly, thereafter her other daughters, their families, and Dale arrived. Teresa found much joy in daily life. Visits were paramount. Playing “Go Fish” with Desiree, Danielle and grandson Richard, family gatherings, home made meals provided by Gail, visits and supplies provided by Yvette and Jude, watching a movie with Parrish even though they would both fall asleep, making a diorama of Simon’s Brick Yard, listening to Julio Iglesia, looking at photos, arts and crafts, gardening, everything. She loved life and all it’s little moments, no matter how simple or spectacular, to the fullest. Her heart was broken on March 23, 2011 with the passing of Dale Everett Clark. Although they had not lived as a couple for over 30 years, she proclaimed often “I will always be Mrs. Clark.” In June of this year, the family gathered to celebrate her 80th birthday. It was a momentous day as it was her first chance to meet all of her great-grandchildren. Teresa Ann Bravo Clark freed herself from the physical confines of this life at 1:36 pm December 7, 2011. She leaves behind an incredible legacy of hope and love in the hearts, memories and dreams of her children, grand children: Samuel Everett, Craig Anthony, Karen Antoinette Clark-Hernandez (Sal Vazquez), Mathew Dee Clark (Teresa Vandusen), Sumer Rose Sanchez (Cesar Espinoza), Arick Michael Clark, Kyle Anthony Clark, Jessica Monico, Richard Garfield Bain III, and her great-grandchildren David Alexander Vazquez, Priscilla Antoinette Vazquez, Aiden Dane Clark, Alayna Clark, Wynter Rose Espinoza and Jesse James Clark. She is survived by her siblings; twin brother Alex (Rosanne), sisters Pauline (John) Martinez and Evangeline (Joseph) Gasca, her brothers Louis and Edward (Louise) Bravo, a vast array of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, second, third, and fourth cousins, her beloved Aunt Lupe, friends, and caregivers. If she knew you, she loved you and wanted to see you happy. Her presence in our daily lives will be dearly missed. But we know she is with us forever. She would not want to Rest In Peace, so we say On To The Next Adventure!!!
