James Harold Clark

James Harold Clark

James Harold Clark, aged 90, formerly of Steele, MO, entered into the presence of Jesus on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 with his daughter, Tammy by his side.

Harold was born on October 4, 1934, in a one-room house on the Gibson Bayou in Denton, MO, during the Great Depression. He was the son of Wilburn and Nettie (Barnard) Clark, and one of four children: Frank, Elsie, Harold, and Jean. Later, the family moved to the home Harold affectionately referred to as the “old home place.”

Tragically, Harold’s mother, Nettie, passed away on November 20, 1940, just one month after Harold turned six years old. His father later married Melville (Melba) Northcutt, and together they had four more children: Brenda, Alton, Charles, and David.

At around 11 years old, Harold left school to help support his family by milking cows, tending a garden, chopping and picking cotton. By the age of 15, he had learned to drive a tractor and began working on his father’s cotton farm. Around this time, he also developed a love for playing pool and cards. Over the years, he held various jobs, including building barges and tugboats in Saint Louis and working at a Buick factory in Flint, MI. In April of 1953 he enlisted in the United States Air Force.

Harold proudly served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. His military career took him to numerous assignments abroad, including Okinawa, Canada, Spain, Vietnam, and Germany. Within the United States, he was stationed in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Panama City, Florida; Goldsboro, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; and twice in Sacramento, California.

While on leave in 1956, Harold met Shirley Jean Daniels in Steele, MO. They married on August 10, 1957. Their son, Michael Lynn Clark, was born on September 4, 1958, in Sacramento, CA, and their daughter, Tammy Diane Clark, was born on February 22, 1962, in Zaragoza, Spain.

Harold enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling, playing pool, cards, and writing poems. He loved traveling the states with Shirley and their children, while visiting family and friends. They also traveled and explored Europe while living there for four years.

In 1973, Harold retired from the Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant, the highest rank attainable in his field. He then purchased the “old home place” in Steele, MO, from his father. After retiring from the military, he helped his father prepare income taxes for local residents, and later worked for the U.S. Postal Service until retiring on January 1, 1991. During his career, he received a service award in recognition of his 35 years of dedicated service to the U.S. government.

On February 19, 1989, Harold lost his beloved wife, Shirley, due to complications following a bone marrow transplant for leukemia.

Following Shirley’s passing, Harold sold their home to his sister Brenda and later moved to Poplar Bluff to be closer to his son Mike, daughter-in-law Sally, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In February 2022, he relocated to an assisted living apartment in St. Louis, MO, near his daughter Tammy, where he remained until his passing.

Harold is survived by his son, Michael (Sally) Clark; his daughter, Tammy Clark; his brothers, Alton Clark and Charles (Carolyn) Clark; his grandchildren, Zach (Alyssa) Clark, Katlyn (Zac) Elsworth, and Amanda (Kevin) Fulda; and his great-grandchildren, Toby and Tanner Clark, and Clark Elsworth. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; his parents, Wilburn and Nettie; his stepmother, Melba; his brothers, Frank and David; and his sisters, Elsie, Jean, and Brenda.

Harold will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. His humor, smile, laughter, and devotion to his family will never be forgotten.

John W. German Funeral Home in charge of services.