Zelma Meece was born May 31, 1891 in Somerset, KY, the first child of Charles Brent Meece and Julina "Lila" Fair Dykes. She moved to Central Park, Montana when just a child, and soon to Manhattan, Montana. She attended nurses training at St. Peter's Hospital, Helena, Montana. She met and married Harry Clark at Bozeman, Montana on Oct 11, 1911.

Zelma and Harry moved to Livermore, Iowa in 1915 and farmed until 1930 when they moved into Livermore. She was a member of the Presbyterian church and United Presbyterian Women, the 20th Century Club and Delta Dek Club, and was a past matron of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Zelma operated the "Barnette" Cafe in Livermore for many years.The name "Barnette" came about because the cafe was located in a remodeled barn. The cafe's menu speciality was southern fried chicken. Zelma raised and slaughtered her own chickens.

Zelma died Sep 1, 1965 in Mercy Hospital, Fort Dodge, IA and is buried in Union Cemetery, Livermore, Iowa.