Gray W. Clark

Gray Watson Clark, 77, of rural Schell City, Mo., passed away at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo., on Wednesday evening, Dec. 5, 2018. Gray was born Nov. 7, 1941, in Washington, D.C., the son of Paul Hudson Clark and Alma (Blackburn) Clark. Gray resided in Bladensburg, Md., during his youth and graduated from Bladensburg High.

Gray is a graduate of the University of Maryland. On June 20, 1965, the week after graduation, he married Linda Lee Chamness in the little chapel on the campus of the University of Maryland.

Gray loved his country. After he and Linda were married, he served in the Army during the Vietnam War.

In June 1982, Gray and his family moved from Maryland to Schell City, Mo. Here he spent the bulk of his adult life serving God and the congregation of the Church of Israel as assistant pastor.

Along with being a loving husband and father, Gray had many interests. He had a passion for studying the great men who founded our country. His favorites included George Washington, Stonewall Jackson, and Robert E. Lee. He also loved West Virginia, the place where the Clark family originated. He enjoyed sports. His favorite was basketball, and he continued to play pick-up games into his early 70s. His greatest passion, however, was Christian education. He, along with his wife, devoted their lives to teaching and encouraging young people not only in academics but also to live Godly lives. Gray was community-oriented. He ran for Northern commissioner of Vernon County in the mid-90s and had been instrumental in organizing the National Day of Prayer event held at the Vernon County Courthouse each May.

Preceding Gray in death were his wife Linda, and his parents.

Survivors include his four children, Glenda Brehm and husband, Daniel, of Schell City, Mo., Manda Moore and husband, Brad, of Carterville, Mo., Nathan Clark and wife, Richelle, of Schell City, Mo., and Jennifer Cozad and husband, Pat, of Port Charlotte, Fla.; and two grandchildren, Ethan and Maddison Clark, of Schell City, Mo.

Funeral services for Gray Clark were held on Monday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m., at the Church of Israel with Pastor Dan Gayman and Pastor Reed Benson officiating. Interment followed in the Hilltop Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Nathan Clark, Ethan Clark, Dan Brehm, Brad Moore, Reed Benson, Bob Burney, Al Van Nest, and Tony Smith.

Online condolences may be left at www.blandhackleman.com.