Shelly Gail Clarke

Shelly Gail Clarke, age 57, was born in Corpus Christi Texas January 14, 1963 to Russell and Gail Moody. Shelly lived in Texas for the first eleven years of her life until her family moved to Massachusetts.

While in junior high and high school she was active in her church youth group where she made friends that would last a lifetime. During these years she excelled in academics and learned to play flute. She had five younger siblings who looked up to her and were so sad when she moved to Lubbock, Texas upon graduating from Taconic High School in 1981.

Her husband, Paul Clarke, entered her life immediately upon her arrival to Lubbock. Paul was a friend of a friend who volunteered to pick Shelly up from the airport. Their love blossomed and they married seven short months later on February 1, 1982 at the Church of Christ in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Following their marriage they lived in Lubbock for two years. While there Shelly worked at a t-shirt shop and would send home personalized shirts for her littlest siblings. This made her the coolest big sister.

In 1984 they moved to Memphis, Tennessee to be closer to family. While in Memphis Shelly started running for exercise and soon found that she could challenge herself with longer distance runs. In her lifetime she completed many marathons, half marathons and shorter runs.

In 1989 Paul and Shelly moved to San Antonio where Shelly started nursing school. She earned her bachelor of science of nursing from UTSA in December of 1992. After graduation she and Paul moved to Austin where Seton Hospital was graced with her presence for 27 years, first as a labor and delivery nurse and then as a child birth educator. Shelly loved people and she loved her work.

On November 9, 1994 Paul and Shelly welcomed their precious daughter, Rachel Gail, into their family. Four years later on January 12, 1999 a second darling daughter, Holly Paige, arrived to complete their family.

Shelly was a loving, kind, generous, thoughtful person. One way she showed her love was by baking for people. Her famous friendship bread is a family favorite.She loved God, her family, and her community.

She died on June 18, 2020. She passed from this broken world into the arms of Jesus where she is at peace. She will forever be missed by those she touched in this life.

Shelly is survived by her husband of 38 years, Paul Clarke; daughters, Rachel and Holly Clarke; parents Russell and Gail Moody; mother-in-law Theda Clarke; sister-in-law Lee Clarke; siblings Russell Moody 2 (Nancy), Phyllis Meredith (David), Kathy Moody, Greta Davis (Jed), and Don Ballew. She will also be fondly remembered by her numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Shelly's family, in lieu of flowers, is suggesting a donation to “Any Baby Can” Nurse-Family Partnership Program.

Donations can be made directly to their website: anybabycan.org/donate/