GORDON R. CLARK

Gordon Clark, 91, of AuSable Forks, N.Y., passed away Nov. 2, 2003, at the home of his daughter in Las Vegas, Nev., with his three children by his side.

Mr. Clark was born in AuSable Forks, June 24, 1912, on what was then the Clark farm. He was the son of Charles and Anna (Jones) Clark.

He was educated in the AuSable Forks school system while helping his mother run the farm and care for the younger children. He married Martha N. Baker of Harkness, N.Y., in 1937. They were married 52 years and had three children: Anne, Weslene and Barry Lee.

Mr. Clark found work at Eastern Tablet in Schenectady, N.Y., during the wartime. Due to an injury, he and Martha moved back to AuSable Forks, where he worked for three years at the Asgaard Dairy Farm. In 1944, he moved his family back to the Clark farmhouse and went to work for the town of Jay's highway department for 27 years as their chief grader operator.

His family said, "He was a diligent worker and many folks in AuSable and Jay can well remember that he was there to plow them out when storms were bad so they could get to work. He was always willing to assist someone in need."

He retired in 1973 from the highway department after working under several town supervisors, including Ray Williams, John Straight, Max Thwaits and Tom Douglas.

Mr. Clark is survived by his children and their spouses, Anne Jaynes of Las Vegas, Nev.; Weslene and Jim Goodman of Palmer; and Barry and Brenda Clark of AuSable Forks. His grandchildren are Paul Elmore of Virginia Beach, Va.; Ronald Elmore of Palmer; Danice Brister of Anchorage; Jana Sue Clark and Lianne Stevens of Keeseville, N.Y. He is survived by seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Grace Thompson of Maine.

He was preceded in death by his wife Martha in 1992; his granddaughter Pamela Anne Dooley in 2003, and by his brother Earl and sisters, Augusta, Mable and Ethel.

His family said, "Gordon loved his family and was a devoted husband and father. He looked forward to them traveling home for a visit. He loved to travel and made many trips to Alaska, twice getting to do the Alcan Highway. He had many friends in Alaska from these trips."

Cremation was provided by Palms Mortuary of Las Vegas and Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home in AuSable Forks. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery. There will be no services at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Methodist Church in AuSable Forks, N.Y. 12912.