San Joaquin County CA Archives Obituaries.....Clark, Okie Neil January 23, 2006
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ca/cafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
K T bluewolf@onemain.com February 2, 2006, 12:04 am

The Tracy Press
Okie Neil Clark

Sept. 10, 1911 — Jan. 23, 2006

A graveside service will be Saturday for former longtime Tracy resident Okie 
Neil Clark, 95, who died Jan. 23, 2006.

Born on the family farm in Paonia, Colo., to George and Etta Clark, Mr. Okie 
Clark spent his early years helping on the farm with his younger brother, 
Carroll, and attending school. He had many fond memories from that time of his 
life, including fishing in the nearby river, playing the coronet in the high 
school band and sledding by moonlight on Bethlehem Hill. He and his brother 
migrated to California, and they had several adventures — including “riding 
the rails,” herding sheep in Wyoming and picking hops in Yakima, Wash., — 
along the way. He and Carroll settled in Merced, where each had a family. At 
this time, he worked as a caretaker for a large ranch. In 1942, he moved his 
family to Tracy where he went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad, first 
as a fireman and then as an engineer. He lived in Tracy about 50 years. After 
his retirement, he and his wife spent many summers in their trailer, camped 
and fished in Florence, Ore., and Lake Don Pedro. In 1984, his life was 
altered by a stroke, and after the death of his wife he moved to Forest Grove, 
Ore., to be near his son and daughter-in-law. A few years later, he returned 
to California and settled first in Manteca and later in Stockton. His hobbies 
included woodworking, building gas-powered model planes and ham radio.

Mr. Clark is survived by his children, Clifford Clark, and his wife, Theresa, 
of Forrest Grove, and Gayle Chamberlain, and her husband, Jean, of Modesto; 
grandchildren, Ron Clark of San Jose, Gerry Clark, and his wife, Beth, of 
Denver, Colo., David Chamberlain, and his wife, Lori, Jeff Chamberlain, and 
his wife, Karen, all of Modesto, and Tim Chamberlain of San Francisco; six 
great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Hilda Clark.

Saturday’s graveside service will begin at 11 a.m. at Tracy Cemetery. The 
family will host a gathering from noon to 1:45 p.m. Saturday for friends and 
family at the Holiday Inn Express in Tracy.

Contributions may be sent to a charity of the donor’s choice. 

Published on Wednesday, February 01, 2006, in the Tracy Press. 


Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to the deceased.
No other information available from submitter.
http://www.tracypress.com/obituaries/


File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/sanjoaquin/obits/c/clark1942gob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/

File size: 3.0 Kb