Raymond W. Clark

Raymond W. Clark, Jr., 75, of Lakeway, passed away on June 4, 2009, in his home surrounded by his son and daughter. Ray was born on July 24, 1933, in Genoa City, Wisconsin, to parents Raymond W. Clark, Sr. and Nelle C. Clark (Ashbaugh). He was the oldest of three sons and was raised in Waukegan, Illinois, where he graduated from Waukegan High School, in 1951. In April 1951, Ray began his employment with Johnson Outboard Motors in Waukegan and was employed there for 30 years until his retirement, with a short interruption in 1953. Ray was inducted into the Army in June 1953 and served with the 27th Engineer Battalion, Charlie Company, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, until September 1955. While he was serving in the Army, Ray married his high school sweetheart Marlene Faye Bates on June 7, 1952. After his separation from the Army, Ray returned to Waukegan and Johnson Outboard Motors. In 1957, Ray moved his family to Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, where he raised a son and a daughter. He also worked as a Winthrop Harbor police officer part-time for a few years. After his retirement from Johnson Outboards in 1983, Ray could no longer take the cold winters in Illinois and moved to Anderson Mill in Austin, Texas, for four years before moving to Lakeway, Texas, where he lived for 22 years. While in Texas, Ray worked for First City Bank then for Frost Bank, before finally retiring for the last time. Ray enjoyed playing golf with his friends and taking his boat out on the lake. He was involved in managing the "Clark Open", for many years, which was a golfing event among friends that took place on Thursdays on the Lakeway golf courses. Then in 2004, Marlene became ill with a debilitating disease that took her life in November 2007. For three years, Ray dedicated his life to being his wife's sole caregiver and constant companion. They were married for 55 years before Marlene passed away. Ray is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Bruns and her friend, Brian VanDeBruggen, both of Kenosha, Wisconsin; his son, Ronald Clark and wife, Kate, of Manassas, Virginia; and his brother, Bill Clark, of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Brian (Jennifer) Bruns, Kelly and Ryan Clark; and three great-grandchildren, Jacob, Jared and Brooke Bruns. The family would like to especially thank Pat Wendland, Skip Hoagg, Alma Trembly, Minni Ortega, Mickey Edgemond, Hospice Austin, and Life Made Easy for all of their assistance and support. Ray will be sadly missed by his family and friends. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society or Hospice Austin.