MERCED, Calif. — Virginia Lee “Ginny” Lisenby Clark, of Merced, Calif., formerly of Lane, passed away peacefully on June 4, 2017, in her home.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 17, 2017, at Clinton Presbyterian Church, Clinton with the Rev C. Don Ferrill officiating. Don was a classmate of Ginny’s.  Lunch will be served for family and friends following the service. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the DeWitt County Animal Shelter, 5955 Weldon Springs Road, Clinton 61727, Clinton Presbyterian Church, 402 N. Center Street, Clinton 61727, Clinton United Methodist Church, 308 E. Main Street, Clinton 61727 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Ginny was born on April 3, 1931, in Clinton, Ill., the daughter of Olive and Elwin Lisenby.

She attended Lane Grade School and Clinton High School, graduating in 1949.  She then graduated as a registered nurse from Passavant Hospital, in Chicago, during the time that Dr. Loyal Davis, father of Nancy Davis Reagan, was on the staff of the hospital.

Ginny married Lt. Tom Harris, from Clinton, in Feb. 1953.  He was killed in an airplane accident during the Korean war.  She and Tom had a son, Jeffrey.

She later married Lt. Leon McAdams, who was killed in a B-52 aircraft while they were stationed at McDill AFB, Tampa, Fla.  She and “Mac” had a daughter, Lee Ann, who was age 7 months when her father died.

Several years later, Ginny married Col. Andrew J. Clark, who died at age 56.  They had a son, Adam, who suffered brain injuries in an automobile accident at age 16.  She and Andy were stationed at many U.S. Air Force bases throughout his career, including Hunter AFB, Savannah, Ga.; Glasgow AFB, Montana; Castle AFB, Califorina; Westover AFB, Massachusetts, and Offutt AFB, Omaha, Neb.  They retired in Merced, Calif., where Ginny lived for 39 years.

Ginny worked as a registered nurse in Clinton, Omaha and Merced, where she was head of ICU at Mercy Hospital.  She retired from nursing in 1998.

She enjoyed many hobbies, including painting, clothing, quilting, bridge and shopping, shopping, shopping.  She and her sister, Barbara, spent many years shopping wherever they happened to be together, especially in San Francisco and Santa Fe.

Cats also were a hobby.  Her home is filled with a collection of memorabilia featuring cats, paintings, Lladros, sculptures, etc.  “Hope” was her indoor cat for many years, plus her yard has been home to many feral cats throughout the years.  She fed, neutered and tended to her flock daily.

In recent years, when she could no longer perform the tasks, her caregivers took over.  Hope’s ashes will be buried with Ginny.

Preceding her in death was her mother and father, Olive and Elwin Lisenby, her husbands and one grandchild.

She is survivied by her children, Jeffrey Stewart Harris, Lee Ann Russell and Adam Elwin Clark, her grandchildren Jennilee, Emily and Zachary Russell; Commander Joshua Harris DeCaro; Kayci and Sam Harris; great-grandchildren Ainhoa and Aimar.  Her sister and best friend Barbara Strange also survives.