Eldred A. "Clark" Clark

Eldred A. "Clark" Clark, age 82 of Higginsville, Missouri died on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Missouri. Born Sunday, December 2, 1928 in Salem, Missouri, he was the son of Tristom Worth Clark and Roxanne Walker Clark who preceded in death. He attended the one-room school (Gill) in Dent County until the family moved to the Hughesville area in 1939 where he attended Northwest High School until 1944 when the family moved to the Lincoln area. He graduated from the Lincoln High School in 1945 at the age of 16. Following graduation, he worked on various farms in the Hughesville and Marshall area. Shortly after his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and spent the next 20 years serving in the U.S. Air Force at various places around the world. While serving, Eldred met Donna Mae Vogt of Reinbeck, Iowa and they were married on December 16, 1952. During his years of service, Eldred pursued his education by taking classes at various universities wherever he was stationed. Following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force in 1967 ranking Master Sergeant, he completed the necessary work for a teaching certificate in Mathematics and Physics at Central Missouri University. He began teaching at the Windsor High School in 1969 and in 1971, accepted a teaching position at the Lafayette C-1 High School in Higginsville where he taught until his retirement in 1988. He was a member of the Central Christian Church in Higginsville, Higginsville Masonic Lodge, Higginsville Order of Eastern Star, Higginsville American Legion Post #223 and National Educators Association. Surviving are his wife, Donna Mae Clark of the home; one son, Robert (Lisa) Clark of Liberty, Missouri; three daughters, Sandra (Alex) Starke of Higginsville, Patricia (Victor) Perez and Debbie (Todd) Crabtree, both of Blue Springs, Missouri; two brothers, John Clark of Dallas, Texas and Fred Clark of Smithton, Missouri; one sister, Cora Clark of Smithton, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Steve (Rachel) Clark, Sarah (Paul) Day, Shawn (Mandy) Clark, Scott Clark, Cory Starke, Amber (Nolan) Wesche, Taylor Crabtree, Kaitlin Crabtree, Maranda Perez; four great grandchildren: Alexandre Day, Anabelle Clark, Gabriel Wesche and Ethan Clark; and a myriad of nieces and nephews. A Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, June 24, 2011 at Hoefer Chapel located at 1600 Main St. Higginsville, Missouri with the Rev. Donald G. Sturgess officiating and Scott Clark, Eulogist. Interment will be in Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, Missouri with full military honors provided by Whiteman A.F.B. Military Honors Detail. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 23, 2011, at Hoefer Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the Family suggests Memorials to the Lafayette Co. Cancer Coalition, P.O. Box 88, Higginsville. Casket bearers will be Eldred's Grandsons. Honorary pallbearers are Vernon Horn of Sedalia, Missouri; Ben Lewis, Albert Lee and Lester Kelso of Higginsville; Jerry Jones of Dike, Iowa; Jerry Sharp of Grundy Center, Iowa; Mike Vogt of Des Moines, Iowa; Leonard Vogt of Cherry Valley, California. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hoeferfuneralhome.com

Eldred A. "Clark" Clark

December 2, 1928 - June 21, 2011