Patricia Ann Alvis Clark, 83, formerly of Bloomington, IL, passed away quietly in the presence of family on September 20, at the Champaign County Nursing Home.

It is difficult to describe fully the depth and breadth of the spirit of Pat Clark. She dearly loved her children and grandchildren; they always filled her heart. She had many interests and pursued them keenly. She spent much time in quest of knowledge about classical music, opera, poetry, nature, politics, history, and more. She could recognize an opus, an aria, recite a volume of poetry, share her wonder at the beauty around her, and tell you in no uncertain terms the many reasons she was a staunch Democrat and feminist, with all the personal and national history that brought her there. She was an artist and activist in her daily life, devoted to the causes in which she believed. She was spiritual in her world view, always in wonder of nature, and in the good she could find in others. And she was generous to a fault! Pat was inspired to write hundreds of poems. When read back to her years later she said, "Did I write that? That's pretty good!"

Pat had a variety of careers from bank teller, to executive housekeeper at Champaign County Nursing Home, to partnering with "her Jac" in their business "The Scrubbables." Whatever she did, she did with total dedication to excellence.

The youngest of nine children, Pat loved to tell stories of her family, their trials of loss and survival during the depression, the kindness and the firm values of her parents, and her brothers and sisters, each with a story worthy of a chapter in a book begging to be written.

Even as her health declined in the last few years, she remained in good spirits and enjoyed her time with family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ruby (Ferguson) and Sturm Alvis, her siblings Dorothy (Glen) Dale, Bernadine (Mike) Reiter, Ruby (Don) McNeeley, Harry Alvis, Mary (Glen) Jaspers, Sturm Jr. "Junior" (Betty) Alvis, Betty Lou (Bart) Wilson, Norma Jean (Ray) Vinson, and by her partner in life, Jac Teller Bruno.

She is survived by her children Paul Clark, Peter (Karen) Clark, Elizabeth (Daniel) Maloney, and Phillip Clark; her grandchildren Rachel (Phillip) Bosma, Hannah Clark, Sarah (David) Alter, Olivia Maloney, Julia Maloney, Noah Clark, and Levi Clark; many nieces and nephews; and her dear lifelong friends Mary Corlin, Avis Bernstein, Jean Lewis, and many more.

The burial and a celebration of life service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on October 7th at the Alvis family plots in Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington, followed by a gathering of family and friends.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, please honor Pat with a donation to Austin's Place: An Emergency Shelter for Homeless Women (shelter-austinsplace.weebly.com), the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org), or to the charity of your choice.