Lark Louise Christy was born to Martha Jane Mallory Christy and Ray Magee Christy on December 9, 1949 in San Francisco. She lived a life full of love and passed away suddenly on December 30, 2017 after a glorious week spent with all six of her grandchildren.
She grew up in an Air Force household, where her father’s assignments took them around the country including Fairbanks, Alaska. Lark had a beloved younger sister, Brooke Hope Christy, and a brother (who died soon after birth), Clinton Mallory Christy. The family settled in Bossier City, Louisiana at Barksdale Air Force Base. She spent a summer working at the Cog Railway, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. After graduating from Airline High School in 1967, she went to Northwestern State University for her biology degree and then medical technology school at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. She and Warren Lambard then moved to Minden, Louisiana, and had three children, Brooke Hope Lambard Kyle, Luke Gilkison Lambard, and Piper Christy Lambard Do. Lark’s focus was raising her family.
She was also very active in the community, including Junior League and her church, Minden Presbyterian. She loved singing as an alto in the choir. She treasured her dear friends in the community.
In 2006, she moved to Miami where she found great joy as a children’s bookseller. She then spent a year living and traveling in Australia. From there, she moved to Eugene, Oregon in 2009. She found a home in Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir and served as a deacon. She was active in the local arts community including a weekly watercolor club and an annual art trip to Oaxaca, Mexico.
Lark was beloved by all who knew her. She was a ray of happiness in every room and was easily recognizable by her brilliant smile and easy laugh. Lark loved her family and especially adored her six grandchildren – who knew her as Lala or Momma Lark. Her last week was full of love and laughter on a glorious beach vacation with her three children, their spouses, and her grandchildren.
Lark will be remembered fondly for her love of organic produce, all birds but especially raptors, Martha Stewart, newspaper comics, various Schnauzers, Oysters Rockefeller, English tea, and for her thoughtful correspondence.
Another passion for Lark was the encouragement of reading for children, as evidenced by her immense children’s book collection and her volunteer work in her grandchildren’s school library.
She is preceded in death by her parents Ray and Martha Christy, her sister Brooke Christy, and her brother Clinton Christy. She is survived by her daughter Brooke Hope Lambard Kyle and husband Chris, of Eugene, Oregon; son Luke Gilkison Lambard and wife Kelly, of Benton, Louisiana; daughter Piper Christy Lambard Do and husband Toan of Austin, Texas; grandchildren Piper, Preston, and Pace Kyle of Eugene, Oregon; Holden, Harrison, and Evangeline Lambard of Benton, Louisiana; cousins Kenneth, Stephen, Keith, Marion, and
Gordon Christy; Amy Sisley, Jan Sisley Johnson; and Lynn, JB, and Karen Christy.
A memorial service will be at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bossier City, Louisiana at 1 p.m. Thursday January 4th with graveside service to follow at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home in Haughton. There will be a memorial service in Eugene, Oregon in the coming months.
The best way to memorialize Lark is with smiles, laughter, and time with family. For those wishing to make a donation in her honor, we suggest WellMama, a nonprofit in Eugene devoted to mothers and families with an emphasis on perinatal mental health and bereavement through support groups, crisis resources, and education. Lark’s daughter Brooke serves on the board of the group and Lark was greatly involved in their community efforts.
www.wellmamaoregon.com or 150 Shelton McMurphey Blvd Ste 208 Eugene, OR 97401.
Lark was taken from us suddenly and unexpectedly. The surprise and shock of her passing reminds us that life is a gift. Never take time with loved ones for granted and never hesitate to express your love to family and friends, as Lark did so often.
In the spirit of Lark’s thoughtful, timely thank you notes, it is now our turn:
Thank you, Mom, for being who you were. For loving us. For being an amazing example of unconditional love. For selfless acts towards others.
We will strive every day to live up to the example you set for us.
With eternal love,
Brooke, Luke, and Piper