1926
Merlin
2014
Merlin Clark
January 4, 1926 — July 13, 2014
Our beloved father, Merlin Wayne Clark, returned home peacefully Sunday morning, July 13th 2014 in the presence of his eternal companion and a faithful son at the age of 88.
He was born in Provo, Utah on January 4th 1926 to Otto Ferdinand Clark and Martha Marie Croft Clark. He was the oldest of their 4 children.
WayneaEUR(tm)s mother died when he was 8 years old. Eight months later his father, who was a Rail Road Agent in Payson, Utah, was killed in a train accident. Due to circumstances, Wayne and his brother, Dean, were sent to live at the aEURoeYeoman City of ChildhoodaEUR orphanage in Illinois. Wayne retuned to the home of his grandmother in 1944 and graduated from Provo High School.
World War II was in full swing so Wayne joined the Navy, serving in the Pacific. Off the north coast of Okinawa his ship, USS Stormes, was hit by a Kamikaze suicide planeaEUR"killing about 25 men and badly damaging the ship. After repairs in dry-dock when the war ended, they returned through the Panama Canal to Norfolk, Virginia. Wayne was discharged and returned to Provo.
Wayne attended BYU where he met Lois Joan Manwaring. Wayne and Lois were married on June 2nd 1947 by Joseph Fielding Smith in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their home in Fullerton, California, later moving to Riverside, California.
Wayne worked as a painting contractor and later included remodeling in his business. He was always sought after for the quality of his work. They later moved to Yucaipa, California where they lived for many years. They returned home to Utah in 1973 where they have lived in Salem, Woodland Hills, Provo, and Mapleton.
Wayne was very active as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in the scouting program, as a missionary, a temple worker in the Provo temple, and in many other callings, including service in a bishopric for several years.
Wayne has always been a generous and a kind friend, having blessed a multitude of lives along the way, in addition to his beloved family. We will miss him, but wish him well in the peaceful company of those he loves beyond the veil.
He is survived by his loving companion Lois, and their 7 children: Kenneth (Flora) of Provo, UT; Gary of McMinnville, OR; Steven (Sueanne) of Wanship, UT; David of Springdale, UT; Randy (Carolyn) of Orem, UT; Janice; of McMinnville, OR; Larry (Sue) of Mapleton, UT; and 18 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Wayne was preceded in death by his brothers, Dean Clark & Johnny Mayberry, his sister Myrna Casper and 3 half siblings Marjory, Dick, and Art Clark.
A viewing will be held prior to the funeral service on Friday morning July 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Mapleton 11th Ward meetinghouse located at 1600 N. Main in Mapleton. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m.
We wish to express our appreciation to all who have given care and comfort to our family along the way.
He was born in Provo, Utah on January 4th 1926 to Otto Ferdinand Clark and Martha Marie Croft Clark. He was the oldest of their 4 children.
WayneaEUR(tm)s mother died when he was 8 years old. Eight months later his father, who was a Rail Road Agent in Payson, Utah, was killed in a train accident. Due to circumstances, Wayne and his brother, Dean, were sent to live at the aEURoeYeoman City of ChildhoodaEUR orphanage in Illinois. Wayne retuned to the home of his grandmother in 1944 and graduated from Provo High School.
World War II was in full swing so Wayne joined the Navy, serving in the Pacific. Off the north coast of Okinawa his ship, USS Stormes, was hit by a Kamikaze suicide planeaEUR"killing about 25 men and badly damaging the ship. After repairs in dry-dock when the war ended, they returned through the Panama Canal to Norfolk, Virginia. Wayne was discharged and returned to Provo.
Wayne attended BYU where he met Lois Joan Manwaring. Wayne and Lois were married on June 2nd 1947 by Joseph Fielding Smith in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their home in Fullerton, California, later moving to Riverside, California.
Wayne worked as a painting contractor and later included remodeling in his business. He was always sought after for the quality of his work. They later moved to Yucaipa, California where they lived for many years. They returned home to Utah in 1973 where they have lived in Salem, Woodland Hills, Provo, and Mapleton.
Wayne was very active as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in the scouting program, as a missionary, a temple worker in the Provo temple, and in many other callings, including service in a bishopric for several years.
Wayne has always been a generous and a kind friend, having blessed a multitude of lives along the way, in addition to his beloved family. We will miss him, but wish him well in the peaceful company of those he loves beyond the veil.
He is survived by his loving companion Lois, and their 7 children: Kenneth (Flora) of Provo, UT; Gary of McMinnville, OR; Steven (Sueanne) of Wanship, UT; David of Springdale, UT; Randy (Carolyn) of Orem, UT; Janice; of McMinnville, OR; Larry (Sue) of Mapleton, UT; and 18 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Wayne was preceded in death by his brothers, Dean Clark & Johnny Mayberry, his sister Myrna Casper and 3 half siblings Marjory, Dick, and Art Clark.
A viewing will be held prior to the funeral service on Friday morning July 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Mapleton 11th Ward meetinghouse located at 1600 N. Main in Mapleton. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m.
We wish to express our appreciation to all who have given care and comfort to our family along the way.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Merlin Clark, please visit our flower store.
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