1917
Ray
2014
Ray Clark
January 5, 1917 — October 22, 2014
Longtime Wallace County, Kansas resident Ray C. Clark, 97, died Wednesday, October 22, 2014, at Wallace County Community Care Center in Sharon Springs, Kansas.
He was born January 5, 1917, in Pickett County, Tennessee, the son of Fronia Elizabeth (Gilreath) and Porter Everett Clark. He attended schools at Byrdstown, Tennessee. Beginning in 1937, he served his country in the United States Army, first in the cavalry, and later in the field artillery, and then helping to activate the first Military Police Battalion for the Army. He served for over twenty-one years, with assignments to the European Theatre under General Eisenhower and secondly, under General MacArthur in the Army of Occupation in Japan, and later in the Korean Conflict. He retired with the rank of Master Sergeant, and after ten years in the retired reserve, his retirement rank was adjusted to First Lieutenant, as he had been commissioned prior to assignment to the Pacific Theatre.
On January 1, 1943, he and Idamae Cora Folsom were married, and to them were born two sons James Patrick and Ray Charles, Jr. In 1952, he and Idamae were divorced.
On June 24, 1953, he and Mary Naomi Price were married at Raton, New Mexico, and after Ray’s retirement from military service on September 1, 1958, they moved to Harrison Township in Wallace County, Kansas, to farm. He welcomed Mary’s son Don into their family. In 1987, after his retirement from farming, he moved to Sharon Springs. He was a member of the Dinas Community Church and Grange.
Preceding him in death were his wife Mary, who died April 26, 2007; a son Don Clark; two brothers Jay Clark and Chester Clark; two sisters Marie Zachary, and Nellie Cannon.
Surviving family includes one sister Jean Dodds of Chattanooga, Tennessee;
his sons James Clark and his wife Nina of Fort Worth, Texas; Charles Clark of Houston, Texas; eleven grandchildren Jeffrey, Samuel, Meredith, Kristina, Michal, Cassandra, Lori, Lisa, Carol, Nina, and Edward; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
The memorial service will be Thursday, November 6, 10:30 AM MT, at Dinas Community Church, with Reverend Paul McNall officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Dinas Community Church Cemetery.
Friends may share their respects on Wednesday, November 5, from 4:00 until 6:00 PM MT, at Koons Funeral Home in Sharon Springs.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be designated to Dinas Community Church Cemetery, and may be left at the services, or mailed to Koons Funeral Home, 211 N. Main, Goodland, KS 67735. Online condolences: www.koonsfuneralhome.com
He was born January 5, 1917, in Pickett County, Tennessee, the son of Fronia Elizabeth (Gilreath) and Porter Everett Clark. He attended schools at Byrdstown, Tennessee. Beginning in 1937, he served his country in the United States Army, first in the cavalry, and later in the field artillery, and then helping to activate the first Military Police Battalion for the Army. He served for over twenty-one years, with assignments to the European Theatre under General Eisenhower and secondly, under General MacArthur in the Army of Occupation in Japan, and later in the Korean Conflict. He retired with the rank of Master Sergeant, and after ten years in the retired reserve, his retirement rank was adjusted to First Lieutenant, as he had been commissioned prior to assignment to the Pacific Theatre.
On January 1, 1943, he and Idamae Cora Folsom were married, and to them were born two sons James Patrick and Ray Charles, Jr. In 1952, he and Idamae were divorced.
On June 24, 1953, he and Mary Naomi Price were married at Raton, New Mexico, and after Ray’s retirement from military service on September 1, 1958, they moved to Harrison Township in Wallace County, Kansas, to farm. He welcomed Mary’s son Don into their family. In 1987, after his retirement from farming, he moved to Sharon Springs. He was a member of the Dinas Community Church and Grange.
Preceding him in death were his wife Mary, who died April 26, 2007; a son Don Clark; two brothers Jay Clark and Chester Clark; two sisters Marie Zachary, and Nellie Cannon.
Surviving family includes one sister Jean Dodds of Chattanooga, Tennessee;
his sons James Clark and his wife Nina of Fort Worth, Texas; Charles Clark of Houston, Texas; eleven grandchildren Jeffrey, Samuel, Meredith, Kristina, Michal, Cassandra, Lori, Lisa, Carol, Nina, and Edward; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
The memorial service will be Thursday, November 6, 10:30 AM MT, at Dinas Community Church, with Reverend Paul McNall officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Dinas Community Church Cemetery.
Friends may share their respects on Wednesday, November 5, from 4:00 until 6:00 PM MT, at Koons Funeral Home in Sharon Springs.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be designated to Dinas Community Church Cemetery, and may be left at the services, or mailed to Koons Funeral Home, 211 N. Main, Goodland, KS 67735. Online condolences: www.koonsfuneralhome.com
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