John Edward Clark passed from this life on August 24, 2019 at the age of 98. He was born March 21, 1921 in Gulnare, Co, the second of four children of Oscar and Ruth Clark. He graduated from the one-room Aspen Grove School, Aguilar High School and Trinidad Junior College. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and served with honor and valor until 1945. He served on various ships and was aboard the USS Ommaney Bay when it was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane. He seldom spoke of the war, but was extremely proud to have served and to be an American.
He married Betty Ida Dempsey in 1943. Together they had 4 daughters. They celebrated 73 years of marriage until her death in 2016.
John worked hard all his life. His family had a small ranch south of the west Spanish Peak, and a lumber business which he started working at an early age. Beside the ranch work, they cut props for the mines and had a saw mill. He was a cowboy and an excellent marksman and hunter. While attending high school, he lived with his Uncle Tine and Aunt Bessie and worked at their dairy. After the war, he brought his family back to the ranch. When the ranch sold, he bought a bulldozer and started his own business building dams and trails on ranches. He worked with many people to make improvements on their places and was proud to make the land better and count those people as friends. He moved his family to Branson in 1959, where they made their home and made a difference, until he moved to Spanish Peaks Veterans Center in Walsenburg in 2018.
John had a never quit work ethic. He was seldom idle. He loved animals and fed a large population of animals in Branson. He had an open-door policy for them as well as people. He was quiet but when he talked, he had something important to say. He did not like waste and had a tendency to keep everything because he might need or could repurpose it. He was a patriot and loved this country. He had a quick sense of humor and a kind, gentle heart. He never failed to help his friends, neighbors, and strangers. He had a reputation for being a person who could be counted on to help. He worked hard to make the town of Branson a great place to live. He lived a simple life, and he left an impact on many because he was a good, honest man.
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings and wife, Betty; granddaughter, Carolyn Barton and son- in-law, Leslie Beaty. Left to honor and remember John are his daughters: Sharon Beaty, Mary Jo Barton, Patti Clark, and Jill Morrow (Tim). Grandchildren: Brett Beaty, Danielle Beaty Flett (Tony), Todd Barton (Angela), Timara Clark, Davida Clark, Chris (Kristi) Morrow, and Cody (Janice) Morrow. Great Grandchildren: Amy, Brenda, Craig Flett; Tarissa Zenglein (Thorsten), Amber, Naya, Cody Barton; Kaylenn Lutz and Justin Lutz (Danielle); Maci and Jonas Morrow, and Gavin Morrow. Great-great grandchildren: Jordan and Adler John Lutz. He was blessed with many special nieces, nephews and friends who made his life better to the end.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, August 31, 2019, at 10am at the Comi Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Ron Hoffman officiating
Private family inurnment will be held in Branson, CO at a later date.
Arrangements made under the direction of the Comi Funeral Home.
