Page created by: Kristine Burnham

How can you sum up a lifetime in a few short paragraphs?

My dad, Gary W. Clark, was a proud Army Veteran who served in Vietnam. He was married for 52 years to my mother, Gloria. It was a life filled with ups and downs, but he always tried to keep a smile on his face and happiness within his family. It's tough to be married to a strong-willed woman and then raise a strong-willed, stubborn daughter but he did it with grace and patience and most of all LOVE. My dad wasn't exactly the mushy type. He didn't do a lot of cuddling (unless I forced it) and he wasn't a man of many words. He shared his love in quiet ways. He loved to cook (while he could), and he loved to sit and watch movies or tv. These would be our bonding times. We'd sit, watch our favorite shows and eat good, savory food or homemade baked goods. He was an excellent baker. He would listen to me talk about my day and give advice if I asked for it. He never complained (at least not to me) about his disease.

My dad battled Parkinson's since the late 80s. It started as mild tremors and eventually took away his mobility. It slowly took his voice then eventually took away his ability to swallow and eat. Parkinson's took his freedom and on November 25, 2023, it took his life.

Not a day goes by that I don't miss my daddy. He will always be my HERO!