Vona Lavene “Babe” Mott Clarke of rural Yates Center died August 14, 2012 in Buffalo. She was 91.

Babe was born Oct. 21, 1920 in Carmen, Okla., the daughter of William Henery and Tillie Belle Brittain Mott. Babe grew up in Carmen and graduated from Carmen High School around 1938.

On Feb. 22, 1941 Babe married Glenn Wyat Clarke in Wichita. The couple lived at Rose Hill for two years before moving to rural Yates Center in 1945. Babe became a mother and farmer’s wife, raising four children.

Babe was active in community affairs; serving on the school board, working on voting precincts and acting as a voting judge. She also worked in food service at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Yates Center for 15 years, managed a DayLight Donut Shop, drove a school bus for District 366 and was a seamstress for The Artex Company; as well as serving concessions at the Community Building for the 4-H Fair and carnival for many years.

During Babe’s time as a homemaker she always had an ongoing project. She enjoyed working on her loom, painting, ceramics, embroidery, and making rugs. She also loved to travel and spent numerous winters as a snowbird Texan. She was always ready for a party and loved to dance. Also Babe was a long-time member of Maple Grove United Methodist Church, belonging to the WUMW groups and Extension Unit Groups.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; four sisters; her husband Glenn in 1991, a son, Larry Bert Clarke, husband Monroe Coy of Wann, Okla.; husband Rev. Elmer Hemphill of Buffalo in the spring of 2012 and also by three infant grandchildren. She is survived by two sons, Randall Clarke and wife, Reba, William “Bill” Clarke and wife, Kathy, all of Yates Center; daughter Betty Bratcher and husband, Lonnie, rural Buffalo; daughter-in-law Karen Louise Clarke, Yates Center; and stepson Elmer E. “Junior” Hemphill; 14 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren and two step-grandchildren; as well as a host of nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.

Services will be Friday, August 17 at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Yates Center. Burial will follow in Oliver Cemetery, Yates Center. Visitation will be the evening prior, Thursday from 6-7 p.m. at Campbell Funeral Home, Yates Center. Memorials are suggested to Horizon Hospice of Chanute and may be sent in care of Campbell Funeral Home, P.O. Box 188, Yates Center, KS 66783. Additional information may also be found at jonescampbellfuneralhome.com