Larry was born on October 16, 1942 to Robert and Orpha Clark in Kenmare, ND. He spent his early childhood on the family farm and in 1953 his family moved to Moses Lake, WA. During his teen years he worked at Deitzen’s Grocery Store and then was hired as an apprentice with a local auto body shop. His skills as a body man drove his passion of the local hot rod scene and he was a member of the Pharoh’s car club. After graduating from Moses Lake High School in 1960 he married Linda Duncan, they had two children.
During the early 1960’s, Larry worked as a painter for Boeing in Moses Lake and then the auto body business took him and his young family to Othello, Davenport and eventually to Wilbur, WA where he owned and operated Ernie’s Body Shop during the 1970’s. After Linda’s passing, Larry met and married Kathryn Jones in 1971 and adopted her daughter from a previous marriage. Larry and Kathy then added two more children for a total of five. Over time Larry bought several successful businesses in Wilbur; Clark’s Sanitation, The Variety Store, The Wilbur Lumber Yard and the famous Billy Burgers, which his family still operates today.
Larry, ever the jokester, loved all of the holidays and especially Halloween, playing cards, and always liked to have a puzzle going. His children remember many wonderful evenings playing hide and seek, going snowmobiling and riding three wheelers. After Larry retired he loved to sit on his back deck with his beloved golden retrievers and discuss what was growing in the garden while watching the sunset or the many planes that would pass overhead. He became very fond of ordering kitchen gadgets online and loved to talk about the new recipes he would try while using them. He enjoyed the years that he and Kathy went “Down South” to Parker, AZ and the summer he gathered his entire family for a week at the Oregon Coast.
Larry was a man of many talents. He was a master auto body man and helped restore numerous classic hot rods and muscle cars. He was passionate about restoring pedal tractors and could often be found in his shop sanding and painting them. He was highly skilled in his woodworking shop and could build or create any project. He was definitely a do-it-yourselfer and was always tackling various home remodeling projects. He loved his position as the lead manager of public relations with Billy Burger. His daily tasks would require greeting customers and inquiring about their life and travels…all from his reserved corner table with full restaurant view.
Anyone who knew Larry knew that he was the best husband, father and grandfather a family could ask for. He is survived by his loving wife Kathy, four children Lori (Rick) Ennis, Erica (Dave) Hearrean, Charlie (Kellie) Clark and Lacey Cousins (Matt Schrag), 14 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. His brother Jack, sisters Dorothy and Karen, and several nieces and nephews. Larry was predeceased by his parents, one son Larry Clark II, one granddaughter Cindy, two great grandsons Camden and Carter along with two brothers Bob and Jim and a sister Gloria.
A Celebration of Life Inurnment service will be held on Tuesday, May 11 at 12:00 noon at the Wilbur Cemetery, Wilbur, WA. Memorials may be made to the Wilbur Ambulance Fund or the charity of the donor’s choice. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.strate-funeral.com for the Clark family. Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, WA is caring for the family.
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