Enterprise, Oregon
Wayne Clark died of natural causes at a care facility in Star, Idaho, on May 31, 2006. He was 96.
Mr. Clark was born on Sept. 23, 1909 on a homestead ranch in Hill City, Idaho, to Frank and Viola Clark. He was one of seven children. He went to high school in Carey, Idaho, after the Clark family moved to a ranch outside of Picabo, Idaho. He rode his horse to school nearly 10 miles, frequently taking his two sisters on his horse with him. He attended the University of Idaho for a brief time, and then returned to work on the farm and help the family.
Mr. Clark married Anna Browning in the early 1930s, and had one daughter, Betty Jean. He and his brother Tom bought a ranch on Baseline Road south of Bellevue where he raised cattle and farmed for several decades. Cattle ranching was his passion, and through the years, he became widely recognized as one of the leading cattlemen in southern Idaho, being inducted into the Idaho Cattleman’s Association Hall of Fame in 1977.
In 1959, Wayne married Ival Deckard, and they lived on the Clark ranch off Baseline Road south of Bellevue. In the late 1970s, he leased the ranch and moved to the Enterprise, where they purchased part of the Monument Ranch on Joseph Creek. The ranch was in steep Hells Canyon country, where they grazed cattle. He loved to ride around the country chasing cows, well into his 70s.
After a short return to the ranch south of Bellevue in the early 1980s, the couple sold the Baseline Ranch and bought another seven miles north of Enterprise. In later years, he and his wife lived in an assisted living home in Joseph before she died. He spent the last few years at the Beehive home in Star.
Mr. Clark is survived by two grandsons, Richard Walker of Richfield, Idaho, and Kent Laverty of Boise, Idaho; two great-granddaughters Hannah Jo Walker and Sierra Laverty, one step-granddaughter, Sharon Sigglin; five step-grandchildren, Kerry Lynn, Bart, Holly, Shannon, and Sherry; five step-great-grandchildren, Ari, Nick, Ryan, Kenzie, and Teagan and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Wayne was preceded in death by his wife Ival Clark, his daughter Betty Clark Laverty, his parents Frank and Viola Clark, and his brothers and sisters Tom, Jessie May, Vern, Frances, Helen and Champ.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on June 9, 2006, at Bollman’s Funeral Home in Enterprise. Burial services will follow at the Prairie Creek Cemetery in Joseph.
Wallowa County Chieftain – June 8, 2006
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Wayne Clark, 96, of Star, Idaho, and formerly of Enterprise, died May 31 at a care center. A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. Friday June 9 at Bollman Funeral Home in Enterprise. Burial will be at the Prairie Creek Cemetery in Joseph.
Mr. Clark was born Sept. 23, 1909, to Frank and Viola Clark on a homestead in Hill City, Idaho. He graduated from high school in Carey, Idaho, and attended the University of Idaho. In the early 1930s he married Anna Browning. In 1959 he married Ival Deckard. With his brother Tom he bought a ranch south of Bellevue where he farmed and raised cattle for several decades. He served as Blaine County watermaster, and from 1949 to 1965 he was a Blaine County commissioner. He was president of the Yellowstone Highway District, and was an extra in several movies, doubling for Cesar Romero in “Wintertime” and appearing as a gunfighter in “Northwest Passage.” He was inducted into the Idaho Cattleman’s Association Hall of Fame in 1977. He was a member of the Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club and served as president. He trained and bred quarter horses and took fourth place at the world championships of chariot racing in Elko, Nev. In the late 1970s he leased his ranch and the family moved to Wallowa County where they purchased part of the Monument Ranch on Joseph Creek. After a short return to the Bellevue ranch, the family bought another place seven miles north of Enterprise. The couple lived in an assisted living home in Joseph. After the death of his wife he moved to Star.
Survivors include grandchildren, Richard Walker of Richfield, Idaho, and Kent Laverty of Boise; several great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, and other relatives. A daughter, Betty Clark Laverty, and his siblings, Tom, Jessie May, Vern, Frances, Helen and Champ, all died earlier.
The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending June 10, 2006