Baker City, Baker County, Oregon
John Clifford Clark, 52, of Baker City died Dec. 24, 2002, at his home.
There will be a celebration of John’s life at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Calvary Baptist Church, 2107 Third St. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception after the service.
John Clark was born on Dec. 28, 1949, to David and Floy Clark at Clovis, N.M. His family moved to Baker City in 1965.
During his high school years he worked for Ellingson Lumber in the Plywood Division, at Safeway and Ordway Evans Second Hand Store. John was a 1968 Baker High School graduate. He joined the U.S. Navy immediately after graduation.
John and Neva Walter were high school sweethearts. They were married in 1970 at the Calvary Baptist Church. They had two children: Edward, born in 1975; and Jennifer in 1977.
John enjoyed working, it was actually never work for him. He found it more of a hobby because he loved it so much. He worked for 17 years with Champion International Lumber Co. at Bonner, Mont., until the company was sold. While in Montana, John’s favorite sport was ice fishing.
In 1990, they moved to Nevada, living and working as a welder mechanic at the BullFrog Mine in Beatty until 1999. In May of 2000 they moved to Tonapah where they spent 18 months until the job ended.
In March of 2001 he was diagnosed with tumors. They then moved home to Baker City where they have spent these past six months.
During John’s life he enjoyed being outside and being in warm climate such as that in the desert and camping. He loved guns, learning about them, reading about them, and knowing all of the ins and outs about them. In his spare time he enjoyed making wooden or horseshoe puzzles
John was a friend to many, giving people his undivided attention when they would come to visit. He had a smile that lit up a room and there was no one who had a more unique laugh. John enjoyed watching his grandchildren and in the last weeks would spend hours just looking at pictures of them.
John was preceded in death by his son, Edward Lee Clark, who died May 14, 2002, at Miles City, Mont.
Survivors include his wife, Neva; a daughter, Jennifer Ann Clarksmith, and her husband, Kelly; his mother, Floy Jean Kennedy Clark of Baker City; a brother, James Clark; a sister, Diana Graham of Afton, Okla.; grandchildren, Abigail Anne Smith, Dylan John Smith and Joshua David Smith; very special friends, Brad and Jean Curtiss, Ken Jones, Doug Pierson, Robert Joseph, Don Meanor, John Garrsland, Tom Skeen, Steve Doney, Dan and Mary Anderson, John and Sandy Brennan, Bob and Linda Stouffer and Mike and Ruby Carroll.
John’s body will be taken to Sutton Creek where he will be placed with his son, Edward.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January, 3, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor