SKOWHEGAN – Clayton Howe Clark, 72, passed away Tuesday morning, Nov. 1, 2011, at home on Middle Road, after a courageous four-year battle with cancer. He was born Jan. 14, 1939, in Skowhegan, son of L. Carroll and Winnifred (Howe) Clark.
He married Joanne Clark, 55 years ago on Nov. 22. He was captain of the football team, played basketball and track, served as a class officer, member of student council, and graduated cum laude. He had been inducted into Skowhegan High School Football Hall of Fame. Clayton “Clayt” grew up on the family farm and after graduating from Skowhegan High School in 1957, went to work with his dad, then purchased the farm in 1967. He showed his registered Jersey cattle at many Maine fairs for a number of years. When he was the president of Maine Jersey Cattle Club, he and Parker Sanborn of Sidney organized The Maine Jersey Cattle Futurity. In 1972, he was asked to work in the livestock department at Skowhegan State Fair, which he enjoyed for nearly 30 years. In 1991, he was inducted into Fair Agricultural Hall of Fame. He was president of Skowhegan Fair Association for several years. In 1980, he started Clark Livestock Sales and Auction Service which he did for more than 25 years, holding weekly auctions and holding many on-site dispersal sales. He was a seventh degree member of the Grange, holding offices at local, county and state levels. He was on State Grange Executive Committee for 12 years, and he and Joanne were on State Agriculture Committee for more than 20 years. In 1985, he and his family were chosen as Outstanding Grange Farm Family. He had been on town budget, finance committees and town industrial committee. He served on the board of directors at Good-Will Hinckley for 16 years. In 1995, he was elected to the board of directors of the Big E – Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, Mass. He was president of Maine Eastern States Directors for several years and then remained as a trustee. In 2009, he received an award from the Big E Maine trustees for distinguished service. In 2010, he was honored to receive Maine Department of Agriculture Distinguished Service Award. Clayt enjoyed all the friendships he had made in his business, but his family and their lives were his first love. He enjoyed family times, weekly suppers and the grandchildren’s events. He traveled the entire East Coast to watch them, always wanting to get there early to talk with them so they’d know “Gramp” was there. Whether it was football, basketball, wrestling or rugby, he rarely missed a game. He liked to visit the Maine Coast, the lobster feeds and some camping, making conversation with anyone and usually finding someone he knew no matter where they went.
Clayton is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Joanne; three sons, Leroy and Michelle of Beldenville, Wis., Michael and Debbie of Skowhegan, and Zane of Benton; four grandsons, Benjamin and wife, Dr. Ariel, of South Portland, Joshua and wife, Amy, of Norridgewock, Caleb of Green Bay, Wis., and Lucas of Beldenville, Wis., stepgranddaughters, Jamie and husband, Stacy Collins, of Moscow, Lynette Cowen and Kim Paine of Skowhegan; great-stepgrandchildren, Kaylee Cowan and Jordan Mercier; brothers, Bill and Harriet of Skowhegan, and Bob and Donna of Starks; sister-in-law, Jennifer Clark of Auburn; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mary and Charles Cloughtery, Brenda and Bill Mannell, Randy and Jackie Kulakowski, Raymond Kulakowski, Teresa and Walter Freeman, all of Massachusetts; aunts, Frances Smith of Norridgewock and Hazel Magnusson of Gorham; many nieces, nephews and cousins, too numerous to list; also, special longtime friends, the John Ingraham family of Knox. He was predeceased by his parents; sister, Alice Carolyn Dawson; and brother, Reginald Clark. The family thanks all the girls in the oncology unit at Redington Fairview General Hospital, who were all the best!; Dr. Robin Locke; Dr. Dina Jeannotte; also the hospice team, which were so helpful and appreciated.
Viewing hours will be held 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan. A funeral service will be held 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at Skowhegan Federated Church, Island Avenue, Skowhegan, with the Rev. Mark Tanner and Pastor Robert Farley. Burial will be after the service at Fairview Cemetery, Canaan. In lieu of flowers, those who want may send donations to the oncology department at Redington Fairview General Hospital, P.O. Box 468, Skowhegan, ME 04976 or HealthReach Hospice, Maine General Health, Office of Philanthropy, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903.