John Clark

John William Clark was reunited with many loved ones, at the age of 90 on Sunday, May 26, 2024. A memorial service will be held at the College Ave. Church of Christ in El Dorado, AR on Saturday, June 1st at 10:30 am.

John was born on Dec. 19, 1933, in Rencona, NM to OA and Lila Clark. He was born the sixth child of 12 born to the couple. John grew up on a farm and had no electricity or running water until he was in high school. Their family drove a school bus roughly 40 miles on dirt roads to church at every opportunity, often singing on the trip. He enjoyed playing basketball and loved playing baseball, since he and his brothers could field a team within his family.

John attended Abilene Christian College and studied Bible. He was a preacher for the Churches of Christ for over 70 years. His first date with Elma was to preach at a small rural Texas church. He preached in a dozen states here in the US and in Canada. He was instrumental in introducing the concepts of children’s worship and church bus ministries, which were popular in the Bible Belt to the Northwest United States.

John was an avid fisherman, hunter and gardener, skills developed for sustenance, not only for sport.

He semi-retired to Deming, NM in 2000, where he continued to preach off and on for the Ninth Street congregation in Deming, NM. He continued to hunt and fish and work the land. He was not fan of sitting still. In 2020, he and his wife, Elma, Moved to El Dorado, AR to be closer to his daughter. He immediately became an active member of the College Ave. Church of Christ in El Dorado.

Even in his later years he continued good, in-depth Bible discussions and singing the old gospel hymns. Even as dementia became increasingly prevalent his ability to recall scripture – book, chapter, verse, never diminished. He attended church if the doors were open, even up until the week of his death.

John is survived by his wife of 68 years, Elma Hurst Clark; three brothers: OA (Linda) Clark of Mineral Wells, TX; Charlie (Nida) Clark of Moriarity, NM; Daniel (Laronna) Clark of Austin, TX and one sister, Dottie Hoxie of Clovis, NM. He is survived by four sons Bill (Megan) Clark of Clarendon, TX; Dave (Tracy) Clark of Vancouver, WA, Steve (Ella) Clark of Boring, OR; Phillip Clark of Vancouver, WA and one daughter, Sheila (Jonathan) Holland of El Dorado, AR. Additionally, he is survived by 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, many, many nephews and nieces and a grand multitude of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, OA and Lila Clark; brothers and sisters Opal Clark Bonney, Ruby Fay Clark, Jewel Clark Caffey, Mary Clark Copeland, James Clark, Warren Clark, Lila Clark Doyle, granddaughter Paola Massiel Holland, and an unnamed infant daughter.

Cremation services entrusted to Young’s Funeral Directors.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.