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- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 27 Apr 2005.
Smoky Mountain School’s Doris Jean Clark dies
Doris Jean McMahan Clark died at Baptist Hospital in Newport after struggling with pancreatic cancer for several months. She was 59 years old.
By: David Popiel
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
04-27-2005
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Her family provided land for Smoky Mountain School and she provided a lifetime of lessons and love for thousands of children during four decades.
Doris Jean McMahan Clark died at Baptist Hospital in Newport after struggling with pancreatic cancer for several months. She was 59 years old.
For about 40 years she taught at Smoky Mountain School-spending more consecutive years at the elementary school than any other educator.
In January, she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment this year. But, her conditioned worsened in recent weeks.
Former Smoky Mountain School Principal Paul Cogburn, who worked with her for about 20 years, said, “She had more talent in her little finger than I had in my whole body. . . She knew how to teach.”
Clark began teaching in 1965, while she was still attending college. “There was a shortage of teachers in the county. So they hired my mother,” said daughter Sallie Clark.
Cogburn said that Doris Jean Clark taught reading and math in the Title I program. “She was a dedicated teacher and backbone of the community,” he said.
The daughter of Smith Ardell McMahan and the former Nina McGaha, she was one of three children raised on the farm now occupied by Smoky Mountain School. Ardell McMahan provided the land for the current facility built about 1956 and renovated in recent years.
She is survived by a brother, Dale McMahan, of Cosby, and sister, Deannie Nelson, of Orlando, Florida.
Doris Jean attended Liberty School, Smoky and Cosby schools and completed a degree at Morristown Business School in 1963. She attended East Tenn. State University, and graduated in 1974 from Carson-Newman College.
She was also involved in and stressed the importance of the Cocke County Education Association (CCEA), Tenn. Education Association, and National Education Association. CCEA named her Teacher of the Year for 1996-97. She achieved Career Ladder III.
Her favorite organization was Alpha Omicron Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa teacher’s sorority. She was designated a Silver Sister in 2000 and had served as sergeant at arms, vice-president, and president from 1982-84.
She was also the founder of the Cosby branch of the Red Hat Society, a ladies organization that showed her joy with life and love of people and the community.
Doris Jean also loved to travel, enjoyed visiting with her friends, line dancing, and exercising.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations by made to Alpha Delta Kappa’s Scholarship Fund through treasurer Vickie Moore at 1971 Fowlers Grove Road, Bybee TN 37713.
Tentative plans are for graveside services on Friday at Union Cemetery at 2 p.m. in Newport. A celebration of her life service is set from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday at Episcopal Church of the Annunciation.
Costner-Maloy Funeral Home will be in charge of the services.
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Abt 1946 - 2005 (~ 59 years)
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