Charley Clark

(From Parker Mortuary)

Charles “Charley” Allen Clark, age 88, Carl Junction, passed away on Sunday, July 28, 2024 at his home with family at his side.

Charley was born February 3, 1936 in Hutchinson, KS, son of the late Lester Allen and Leta Belle (Benson) Clark. He grew up on farms and ranches in Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Missouri. He attended rural schools and sometimes rode a horse to school. He went to a different state every year of high school before graduating from Buffalo High School, Buffalo, MO. He then graduated from Southwest Missouri State College (Missouri State University) in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

He married Lenora Ellen Farless on March 8, 1958. He served in the United States Marine Corp. He held various jobs over the years in Agribusiness, traveling the four state area. Careers of Fertilizer and Chemical Sales, Feed and Animal Health sales, Agricultural Banking, and Commodity Stock Brokering.

Charley loved music and was an accomplished harmonica and fiddle player, he played in his family’s band starting at age 10. He later played in the Blue Grass Gospel Band, For Heaven’s Sake. He was a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church of Carl Junction for many years where he served as a Deacon, served on many committees, and was a Sunday School Teacher. Most recently he was a member and Sunday School Teacher at Pleasant Hill Country Church. He loved serving the Lord and his church family. He was also a former member of the Carl Junction School Board.

In addition to his parents, Charley was preceded in death by his wife, Lenora Ellen Clark who passed away on June 19, 2018.

Survivors include his daughters, Carrie DeGraff and husband Mark and Charla Storm and husband Randy; four grandchildren, Jordan DeGraff and wife Kat, Lucas DeGraff and wife Kelsey, Chance Storm and Taylor Storm; great-grandsons, Maxwell DeGraff and Archer DeGraff; sister, Betty Green and her late husband Howard of Carthage, MO; several nieces, nephews, and extended family members, and his special friend and companion for the last several years, Sharon Goddard.

Funeral service will be Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Christ’s Church of Oronogo with Pastor Lance Green officiating.

The family will receive friends at Christ’s Church of Oronogo on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Pleasant Hill Country Church care of Parker Mortuary.