Gary Don Clark

Gary lived a life full of personality, humor, faith, adventure, and a lifelong love of motorcycles.

Early in life, Gary moved around the country several times with his family before they eventually settled in California. His parents owned a motorcycle shop while he was growing up, so motorcycles were part of his life from an early age. It was there that Gary took up flat-track motorcycle racing and quickly became an accomplished racer, earning numerous awards and accolades, including multiple California State Flat Track Championships. In true Gary fashion, he would later tell the story simply: nobody could beat him.

That season of his life was cut short when, at just 19 years old, he needed a kidney transplant. The transplant he received would go on to serve him for nearly 50 years, making him one of the longest-living kidney transplant survivors. It was a remarkable part of his life story and a testament to the resilience that carried him through the years.

His love for motorcycles never left him. Over the years, Gary worked in a variety of roles, including many years in motorcycle shops, managing service departments, and later running a small golf cart business. If it had a motor, especially a small one, Gary was interested.

For a season, Gary also worked with New York Life, taking on an insurance territory that brought his family to Kalispell, Montana. What began as a work opportunity became home. Gary lived in the Flathead Valley for more than 25 years and raised his sons, Nicholas and Dallen, there with their mother, Deedra.

Montana suited Gary. He loved the mountains, the fresh air, the open spaces, and especially the fall, when the air turned cold enough for him to be comfortable in a flannel shirt. He had a deep appreciation for the wide-open beauty of the West and was always happiest when there was somewhere new to explore.

Gary loved a good road trip and, as he would put it, “seeing the country.” Whether it was traveling down old Route 66, wandering through Montana ghost towns, or simply choosing the long, scenic way home, Gary was rarely in a hurry to take the most direct route. For him, the journey was often part of the fun.

He was truly a kid at heart. He loved to joke, tease, mess with people, and keep those around him laughing. He had a gift for bringing positivity into a room and was known as an encourager—someone who enjoyed building people up and helping others have a good time.

Faith was also an important part of Gary’s life. He was involved in church throughout much of his life and especially enjoyed serving with children. For a time, he led a little boys’ class on Wednesday nights, a role that fit him perfectly because of his playful spirit. As Gary liked to put it, he got to teach them “the good stuff,” including memorable terms like “corn tooth” and “lizard lips.” It was exactly the kind of combination of faith, humor, and fun that came naturally to him.

Of all the things Gary loved, his family held a special place in his heart. He dearly loved his wife and his kids, and especially his grandchildren. He took great joy in being a grandfather and was never shy about telling the people in his life that he loved them. If Gary cared about you, you knew it.

Gary is survived by his wife, Jayne Clark; his sons, Nicholas Clark and Dallen Clark; his daughter-in-law, Megan Clark; Jayne’s children, Tim Anderson and Lindsey Anderson; his grandchildren, Addisyn Clark, Paxton Clark, Jacen Clark, Henry Anderson, Emilia Anderson, and Hazel Anderson; his mother, Bobbie Clark; and his siblings, Tim Clark, Peggy Salmon, and Laura Pierce.

He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Clark.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Worship Centre Church, 2830 E. Manning Ave., Fowler, California.

Gary will be remembered for his faith, his humor, his encouragement, his love of family, motorcycles, mountains, road trips, flannel shirts, and for the joy he brought into the lives of the people around him.