Obituary for Jewell "Judy" Clarkston
Jewell Kerlick Clarkston – beloved mother, sister, aunt and caring friend to so many, passed away early Saturday morning July 11, 2020 at age 92 in Richmond, Texas.
Jewell, known as Judy to her family, was born in Cogar, Oklahoma in a log house on March 31, 1928, the seventh of nine children born to Guss & Edith Kerlick. Graduating from Binger High School in 1946, Jewell soon set her sights on the west coast where she lived with her sister Pearl, her husband Bob and their daughter Vickie in San Diego. She got a job working for the Navy and enjoyed dancing to many of the Big Bands of her era. She faithfully attended church with Pearl and Bob, and that’s where she met Joe Clarkston. He was a sailor stationed in San Diego, and Judy thought he looked quite handsome in his uniform. They hit it off and in 1950 they married. They lived there for two more years until Joe was discharged from Navy.
The couple then moved to Oklahoma City to be near family and to let Joe continue his education. He attended Oklahoma University and became a Petroleum Engineer. After graduation, being Californians at heart, Joe and Judy moved back to California and started their family. Bradley was born in 1957 and Jennifer was born five years later. Joe’s career in the California oil patch had the family moving several times. With every move Joe and Judy would make it a priority to find a church where they could serve. Judy would often teach Bible classes and show hospitality to many, making many lifelong friends along the way.
After helping Joe, Brad and Jennifer through college, Judy decided it was her turn, so she began taking classes at the local Junior College. After a couple of semesters of testing the waters, Jewell declared a major and began her pursuit of a Degree in History at California State University Northridge. In 1988, after Joe retired, they moved back to Oklahoma and there she completed her degree at Oklahoma University, graduating in 1991 at age 63.
Remarkably, she worked on her degree while at the same time being the chief caregiver for Joe. He had Parkinson’s Disease for 20 years before he died in 1991, just a few months after getting to see her graduate. Being a caregiver was a big part of her life. She took care of her aging mother, as well as her sisters Pearl and Ruth. In these last few years she also watched over her brother Leo as his health declined.
After Joe died, Jewell spent lots of time traveling to see the world and her family, becoming an avid photographer along the way. She made many trips to Texas to see Brad and Anita and their sons Nathan and Andrew and to Maryland to see Jennifer and Simon. She also looked forward to her annual trips to visit her brother Leo in Panama and later Hawaii. She made another annual trek to the Pepperdine Lectureships in California, not only as an attendee but also as a speaker on several occasions. Pepperdine University was near to her heart and she was given the honor of lifetime member of the Associated Women of Pepperdine.
When she wasn’t traveling, she enjoyed life in Norman. She had great neighbors and she loved having her two brothers Winfred and George and her sisters Doris and Pearl and their families nearby. She was a member of the Oakcrest Church of Christ and used her storytelling abilities to aptly teach ladies Bible class until she moved to Richmond, Texas in 2018.
In Richmond she enjoyed the rest of her days living near Brad and Anita. She loved being a member at First Colony Church of Christ and was well-known for her stylish hats and her comments in Bible class. A life-long student, Jewell was always reading and faithfully journaling until the end. She was proud to say that in her 92nd year she read Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” and James Michener’s “Hawaii” and enjoyed giving a daily accounting around the lunch table with friends.
Predeceasing Jewell are her parents, husband, of 41 years, Joe Clarkston; sister, Doris Martinez, brother, Sidney Kerlick, sister, Pearl Turner, brother, Stanley Kerlick, sister, Ruth Kerlick, brother, Winfred Kerlick and brother, Leo Kerlick. Jewell is survived by her son, Bradley Clarkston and his wife, Anita; her daughter, Jennifer Rundlett and her husband, Simon; her grandchildren, Nathan Clarkston and his wife, Sharon, and Andrew Clarkston. She is also survived by her brother, George Kerlick and his wife, Dorothy; and Winfred’s wife, Zella Faye Kerlick; as well as many loved nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at First Colony Church of Christ in Sugar Land, Texas on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 11:00am. In Oklahoma City a visitation will be held on Thursday, July 16, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Vondel Smith Mortuary on Western Ave. A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 17, 2020 at 11:00am at Evergreen Cemetery in Minco, Oklahoma.
Jewell, known as Judy to her family, was born in Cogar, Oklahoma in a log house on March 31, 1928, the seventh of nine children born to Guss & Edith Kerlick. Graduating from Binger High School in 1946, Jewell soon set her sights on the west coast where she lived with her sister Pearl, her husband Bob and their daughter Vickie in San Diego. She got a job working for the Navy and enjoyed dancing to many of the Big Bands of her era. She faithfully attended church with Pearl and Bob, and that’s where she met Joe Clarkston. He was a sailor stationed in San Diego, and Judy thought he looked quite handsome in his uniform. They hit it off and in 1950 they married. They lived there for two more years until Joe was discharged from Navy.
The couple then moved to Oklahoma City to be near family and to let Joe continue his education. He attended Oklahoma University and became a Petroleum Engineer. After graduation, being Californians at heart, Joe and Judy moved back to California and started their family. Bradley was born in 1957 and Jennifer was born five years later. Joe’s career in the California oil patch had the family moving several times. With every move Joe and Judy would make it a priority to find a church where they could serve. Judy would often teach Bible classes and show hospitality to many, making many lifelong friends along the way.
After helping Joe, Brad and Jennifer through college, Judy decided it was her turn, so she began taking classes at the local Junior College. After a couple of semesters of testing the waters, Jewell declared a major and began her pursuit of a Degree in History at California State University Northridge. In 1988, after Joe retired, they moved back to Oklahoma and there she completed her degree at Oklahoma University, graduating in 1991 at age 63.
Remarkably, she worked on her degree while at the same time being the chief caregiver for Joe. He had Parkinson’s Disease for 20 years before he died in 1991, just a few months after getting to see her graduate. Being a caregiver was a big part of her life. She took care of her aging mother, as well as her sisters Pearl and Ruth. In these last few years she also watched over her brother Leo as his health declined.
After Joe died, Jewell spent lots of time traveling to see the world and her family, becoming an avid photographer along the way. She made many trips to Texas to see Brad and Anita and their sons Nathan and Andrew and to Maryland to see Jennifer and Simon. She also looked forward to her annual trips to visit her brother Leo in Panama and later Hawaii. She made another annual trek to the Pepperdine Lectureships in California, not only as an attendee but also as a speaker on several occasions. Pepperdine University was near to her heart and she was given the honor of lifetime member of the Associated Women of Pepperdine.
When she wasn’t traveling, she enjoyed life in Norman. She had great neighbors and she loved having her two brothers Winfred and George and her sisters Doris and Pearl and their families nearby. She was a member of the Oakcrest Church of Christ and used her storytelling abilities to aptly teach ladies Bible class until she moved to Richmond, Texas in 2018.
In Richmond she enjoyed the rest of her days living near Brad and Anita. She loved being a member at First Colony Church of Christ and was well-known for her stylish hats and her comments in Bible class. A life-long student, Jewell was always reading and faithfully journaling until the end. She was proud to say that in her 92nd year she read Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” and James Michener’s “Hawaii” and enjoyed giving a daily accounting around the lunch table with friends.
Predeceasing Jewell are her parents, husband, of 41 years, Joe Clarkston; sister, Doris Martinez, brother, Sidney Kerlick, sister, Pearl Turner, brother, Stanley Kerlick, sister, Ruth Kerlick, brother, Winfred Kerlick and brother, Leo Kerlick. Jewell is survived by her son, Bradley Clarkston and his wife, Anita; her daughter, Jennifer Rundlett and her husband, Simon; her grandchildren, Nathan Clarkston and his wife, Sharon, and Andrew Clarkston. She is also survived by her brother, George Kerlick and his wife, Dorothy; and Winfred’s wife, Zella Faye Kerlick; as well as many loved nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at First Colony Church of Christ in Sugar Land, Texas on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 11:00am. In Oklahoma City a visitation will be held on Thursday, July 16, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at the Vondel Smith Mortuary on Western Ave. A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 17, 2020 at 11:00am at Evergreen Cemetery in Minco, Oklahoma.