Rex William Clark

July 17, 1938 - June 27, 2014

Rex William Clark passed away at his home on June 27, 2014 from pancreatic cancer.

He was born in Payette, Idaho on July 17, 1938 to William G. Clark and Edna J. Clark (Parke).

He was raised in Boise, Idaho, moving to Redding, California with his family in December of 1954.

He attended Shasta High School where he was active in football and was student body president in 1957.

In 1956, he became a member of the Shasta Roadsters where he served in many capacities. He was also an alumni of the Northern California Auto Racing Association. The members presented him with the 2014 Hall of Fame Founders Award in June, a few weeks before his death. Many thanks to the members for presenting him with this honor and for giving it to him when he was able to enjoy and appreciate the significance.

Rex had an extensive auto racing career. It would be difficult to list all of his accomplishments. He raced at the Redding Drag Strip plus he competed in circle track racing in Anderson for many years. He and his friend, Tom Spade, participated in the Baja 100 in 1972. He began attending the Bonneville Nationals in 1957 until 2013 when his health prevented him from doing so. At the time of his diagnosis, he and his friend, Lon Bonnett, were building a roadster to take to the salt flats. His dream was to get into the 200 mile an hour club. He was also completing work on his 1935 Ford pickup preparing it to be his "driver" around town. He always had a project going and when he wasn't working on one, he was thinking ahead to the next one.

Rex had a varied working career. He worked in the family business, Clark Plumbing; owned Clark Speed Shop; worked for Pepsi Cola; plus owned and operated Active Office Equipment in Chico, California for 25 years. When he retired in 2009, he returned to Redding where he and Angela purchased a home, complete with a shop, where he could create to his hearts content and where he could entertain his friends when they came over. One of his closest friends said that Rex was of the "old school" where please and thank you were words he used often. He appreciated all of his friends and felt so fortunate to have so many. Our family wishes to thank all of them who came by to see him and who assisted him in selling off his cars and his shop equipment. Their caring and concern for him was greatly appreciated.

A special thanks goes to Lon Bonnett and Dennis Stoffel for organizing the sale. You two deserve your angel wings on earth.

Rex lived life to the fullest. He required very little sleep, feeling he had too much to do to waste time with that mundane necessity. He was always available to help friends and family. His days were full and he liked it that way. We didn't have him long enough but we consider ourselves fortunate to have had him in our lives. He will be missed and his memory treasured. God called him to a better place where there is no pain and suffering. He is at peace.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Angela; his daughters Kristen Jacobs and her husband, Rod; Debra Fox and her husband, Ron; his grandchildren, Jamie Jacobs, Jourdan Fox, Graeson Fox, and William Jacobs; also his great-granddaughter, Aeon Avitia. In addition, he leaves his brother Rodger Clark and his family; Angela's children, Janae Bagley and her son, Mitchell; Tina Black, her husband Dennis, and their sons, Garrett and Ethan.

Rex requested there be no funeral.

He asked to have a private family graveside service which was held on July 11th at Lawncrest Cemetery.

There will be a memorial service to celebrate his life on August 2, 2014 at the Holiday Inn, Hilltop Drive, Redding, California at 1:00 P.M.

The family would like to have all of you who can attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Mercy Hospice, 2175 Rosaline, Redding, California 96001 or to a

charity of your choice

.