Lisa Chenault-Clark, 43
Lisa Chenault -Clark passed away Sept. 23, 2005.
Lisa was born June 17, Fathers Day, 1962, in Fresno, Calif. on a bright and sunny day. She attended school in Bakersfield, Calif. at Rushmore Elementary, a Cardin School, junior high, at Compton Junior High in the mentally gifted program and high school at Highland High. After high school she went to work in the family business of Hair and Co. as a makeup and facial artist.
She moved to Big Sur, Calif., and became interested in cooking as a career and was accepted to The Culinary Institute of America in N.Y. She later moved back to Bakersfield to help in the family business of Goldman Enterprises and Stockdale Fashion Plaza alongside her grandparents, now deceased, Frank and Dorothy Goldman of Bakersfield.
She later moved to Montana to pursue her interest and childhood love of horses. There she enjoyed a life of outdoors and adventure with good friends of the same interest. She loved riding the trails and mountain ranges of Glacier National Park and other favorite places with her friends and always made the "best" lunches, pulling wonderful things from her saddle bags, including good wine.
She was a kind and caring mentor, always sharing her good horse sense and never criticizing others' mistakes. She also loved team penning and sorting cattle with her horse Smokey.
Breeding and raising horses, caring for her garden, and cooking for her friends and family were among her happiest of times. Her latest interest was to enter into the world of a private chef and to teach children to cook.
"We will all remember her beautiful smile and sense of humor, even in the worst of situations. She is an inspiration to us all."
Throat cancer came upon her at the prime of her life. She was strong and brave, never letting go of the possibility of being healed and healthy again. She withstood all she possibly could until she gently and peacefully passed away after a three-year journey with cancer.
She is survived by her loving family, mother, Carole Brent; father, Louis Chenault; her sister, Michelle Chenault; brothers, David Chenault and his wife, Denise, and Frank Chenault. Three nieces, Elan, Nicole, Melissa and one grandnephew, Ocean. Along with many loving friends and the loves of her life, her horses, Smokey, Sandy, Bill, Jewels and colt, also her dog, Nora. Lisa had no children.
"Her gentle loving sprit and love of life will live on in our hearts and be sorely missed.
May she ride like the wind and cook with the best, eat and drink and sing songs of life to her hearts content."
Donations in lieu of flowers may go to The Cancer Society Research for Throat Cancer 1-800-227-2345, or Human Therapy on Horseback, P.O. Box 1541, Whitefish, MT 59937.
A celebration of her life will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16. We invite close friends to join us at the Bar W Guest Ranch in the Lodge, at 2875 Hwy. 93 West, RSVP by Oct. 13 to jhendrix1@centurytel.net