Willie “Billy” Clark of Ames, Iowa passed peacefully on the evening of January 16th 2024. He was 87 years young. Family and friends will gather in remembrance on Saturday, January 20th, 2024 at 2pm at Stevens Memorial Chapel in Ames, Iowa.
Billy was born July 24, 1936 in Alligator, MS. He grew up loving to be outdoors, in and around nature and out on the water. He married Mary Marcel McGlawn on June 10, 1954 in Greenville, Mississippi. There they built a life together, as Billy worked in various trades before finding his calling. He spent the majority of his professional life serving the community as a firefighter, ultimately achieving the rank of Fire Marshal.
Upon his retirement, Billy and Mary moved to Ames, Iowa to be closer to loved ones. Outside of work, you might find Billy in the garage tinkering; in the middle of a field hunting for deer; in his gun room doing whatever it is a master gunsmith might do; or in his music space creating another “mixtape” for a family member of his favorite blues, jazz, and gospel hymns.
While his friends called him Billy, those in the family simply referred to him as “Big Daddy.” And the name was a perfect fit for his southern, country-boy persona. You never had to wonder if Big Daddy was in the room – he made his presence known!
Big Daddy is survived by his wife Mary (Big Mama); his daughter Cindy (Dennis) Gilliam and his son Robert (Julie) Clark; his grandchildren Amber (Ben) Allen, Taylor (James) Demmon, Irish (Kyle) Briese, Cason (Katie) Clark, and Kaylyn (Matt) Christianson; and 14 great-grandchildren, brother; Gus (Linda) Bishop and his sisters; Dorothy Clark Douglas and Carolyn Clark.
He was preceded in death by Henri Etta Pickett Couey, Ollie Lea Couey, Robert Earl Clark, Debra Lea Couey Vanhoozer, and Allen Clark.
Online condolences may be directed to www.stevensmemorialchapel.com
