JERRY CLAYTON CLARK

1929-2017

Jerry Clayton Clark, 87, a fine man of reason and faith, passed away April 17 after battling Parkinson’s disease for several years. A wonderful husband, father, and grandfather, well loved by many, Jerry is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jo Ann, and children Ted (Christina) and Ruth (Loraine), grandchildren Jonathan Thomas (Tiffany) and Marlena Clark. He is also survived by brother Jim Clark (the late Dorothy), sister Mary Beth Stage (Bob), and sister Esther Crawford. He was uncle to 6 nieces and nephews, and a beloved close relative to Jo Ann’s cousin Mary Alice Gibner and her children and grandchildren.

Arkansas born and raised, he graduated from Georgia Tech with a Chemical Engineering degree. While in Nashville preparing to become a Methodist lay missionary to Chile, he met his future wife Jo Ann Zeigler, who was getting her Master’s. They became engaged 10 days later and married within 6 weeks. The draft board had other plans and they were deployed to NJ and France.

In the 1960’s, living in Texas City, he received an MBA from UH. Later they lived in Memphis, Chicago, and then Houston since the 1970’s. They developed strong friendships within Memorial Drive United Methodist. His career included IT management positions at chemical, petroleum, and gas pipeline companies, plus a large Houston law firm. Jerry and Jo Ann loved to travel and visited England, Scotland, France, Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Panama.

Jerry’s life was informed by service to others, including serving as an election judge; being active in church ministries including the Soupmobile, Men of Action, program director for the men’s breakfast, and as a volunteer prison ministry mentor for 13 years.

Funeral was 4/22 at Center Grove Methodist in Gurdon, Ark (where Jerry was baptized). A celebration of life will be held at 2pm, 5/4/17 at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston. More at RugglesWilcox.com.