Linda Clark was always the first to send flowers.

Now her saddened students want to return the gesture.

Clark, a Lawrence High School foreign language teacher, was found dead Thursday in her home after failing to arrive at work.

Katie Loyd, an LHS junior, said Clark’s energetic contributions to Homecoming, the holiday adopt-a-family program and other projects at the school would be missed.

“We are personally going to go pick out her flowers,” Loyd said. “When there is a death in the family for a staff member here, Mrs. Clark is the first person to send flowers.”

No foul play was suspected in Clark’s death, said Lt. David Cobb of the Lawrence Police Department. Clark’s body was discovered by a relative, who called police before 9 a.m.

Clark, 65, taught Spanish at LHS for 17 years and was chairwoman of the school’s foreign language department. She sponsored student council and was active in many other student activities at LHS.

“She was beloved by the kids,” said Lawrence Supt. Randy Weseman. “She was a wonderful part of our organization for many years.”

Matt Tait, a 1996 LHS graduate, said Clark had been more than a teacher.

“She was a friend who taught me much more than Spanish,” he said. “She was one of the most influential and special teachers I ever had.”

LHS students and staff were informed of Clark’s death in the afternoon. The district’s crisis response team — whose members are specially trained in grief counseling — was sent in Thursday and expected to return today.

LHS Principal Dick Patterson said Clark’s roots at the high school ran deep.

“She was more than just an instructor,” Patterson said. “Her support for this school is priceless.”

Clark often worked at a concession stand during home basketball games and had a role in the annual student mud volleyball extravaganza. She coordinated student elections.

“She committed her life to this school,” Patterson said.

Clark’s late husband, Ray, was a founding member of the LHS Alumni Assn. He was inducted posthumously in 1998 into the LHS/Liberty Memorial High School Hall of Honor. Their four children also attended LHS.

Weseman said he had worked with Clark on many school projects through the years. Clark helped write the high school Spanish curriculum.

“She’s been one of the people I always turn to when I had a question about foreign language issues,” he said.

Clark taught briefly at Baldwin High School and Central Junior High School before joining the faculty at LHS.