Clifton Gray Clark

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 60 years, Betty Bright Clark, daughters, Christi Clark Stem (Jeff) of Four Oaks, NC, and Teresa Grey Clark (Mark) of Clayton, NC. Also surviving are his brothers, Osborne Clark (Debbie), David Clark (Sheila), Tommy Clark (Ann) and Terry Clark (Christy), his sister, Linda Williams, sisters-in-law, Christine Clark and Debbie Clark, and many, many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alonza and Margaret Clark, brothers, Dumay Clark and Mike Clark, and brother-in-law, Eugene Williams.

Clifton was born and raised on Possum Track Road in Chocowinity, NC and was the fourth of eight children. He spent his childhood and teenage years working and playing on his grandparents’ farm along with all those other “Clark boys.” God bless his sole sister! Those “boys” were well known in the area for driving fast cars and enjoyed competing with one another whenever they could get away with it, even secretly removing the speed governors from the school buses they each drove in high school and racing them up and down Possum Track. Clifton graduated from Chocowinity High School, later earning his electrical license, and that led to a life-long career in heating and air conditioning. He retired from his job in civil service at Cherry Point Marine Base, Havelock, NC after more than twenty-five years of service, and turned his attention to his other passion, antique tractors. Although significantly slower paced than his earlier automotive interests, he genuinely loved tinkering around in his backyard shop restoring old tractors. While he didn’t grow up in the age of computers, that never slowed his ability to search online for some obscure but sorely needed tractor part. He could always tell you about an upcoming tractor show, and eagerly attended many as they offered a much-welcomed opportunity for him and his brothers to spend time together. When not attending to one of his many tractors, he was riding a lawn mower. He did so slowly and deliberately, never allowing the assistance of another lest they not adhere to the precision he determined necessary. Miles upon miles he rode that lawn mower. Clifton possessed a unique ability to know something about an unending list of topics and never tired of discussing history, guns, politics, electronics, baseball and of course, fast cars and slow tractors. He will be dearly missed by those he left behind, but his family takes much solace from the image of him meandering along a heavenly riverbank along with the much-beloved dogs that went before him, the way he did nearly every day, quietly taking in the outdoors and serene peacefulness that such a simple pleasure afforded. He strides easily and breaths deeply, hindered no more by his earthly confines.

A memorial service will be held at Parkers Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, 3551 Greenville Blvd, Greenville, NC on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Clifton’s nephew, Pastor Gene Williams, Jr.

While flowers are appreciated, donations can be made in memory of Clifton G. Clark to Parkers Chapel Free Will Baptist Church.