Larry Eugene Clark

He was the youngest of three children and raised on a small farm with his sister Joyce who was 8 years older and his older brother Elton. He grew up with his cousin Jim Fragola, who was only a few months apart in age, and the stories are numerous with a little bit of crazy thrown in all the way thru high school! They have remained very close throughout their lives.

While in school, Larry said he admired the teachers and what they did for the students, and so started his journey to become a teacher. He graduated from Prosser High School in 1965, and went on to Central Washington University. He graduated in 1969 with his Bachelor's degree and teacher certification. In later years he would go on to get his Master's degree.

That same year, Larry married Sandi Thomas and in 1970, he welcomed his son Shawn into the world.

In 1970, while driving with his family on a trip to Lincoln City for vacation, he heard Newberg school district was hiring, and stopped in Newberg at Mabel Rush Elementary for an interview. He was hired on the spot. He moved his family to their new home and started teaching 6th grade at the beginning of the 1970 school year. In May of 1971, he would hold his daughter Xan for the first time. For the next 30 years he would stay at Mabel Rush, cowboy boots clicking thru the halls, teaching 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. He retired in 2000. He absolutely loved teaching, loved the people he worked with, loved the kids, and loved his school! If you were lucky enough to have him as a teacher, or as a friend, he always had time for you, and was willing to help at every turn.

After an amicable divorce in 1981, he spent most weekends with Shawn and Xan, or travelling to Prosser to help his parents with their new venture Into Thoroughbred horse racing. His dad Jim was a trainer in the 1930's, and after retiring from building houses in 1980, he got back into training and breeding thoroughbred horses. Larry, in turn, found something else he enjoyed as much as being a teacher, and eventually became a owner, trainer, breeder also, with a wall of win pictures, many of them with friends in the picture! Interestingly enough, he rarely bet, and when he did, it was usually the $2 minimum!

One of Larry's favorite memories was the summer of 1989, when for 3 months, he drove his parents and 3 horses to the Midwest and raced the tracks his dad had in the 1930's, and visited family in Colorado and Nebraska.

He remarried in 1994 and later divorced.

In 1998 he bought 40 acres and moved his parents to Newberg to live with him. He enjoyed spending time with family, especially the grandkids, taking them on tractor rides, going on school field trips , and introducing them to new experiences.

He had an amazing sense of humor, and almost always had a smile on his face, a voice you could hear above everyone else in a crowded room, an infectious laugh, and was an excellent dancer. He and Sandi won dance competitions in the 70's, and no doubt there was some disco in there!

When he would go into a store or restaurant, almost every time you would hear somebody yell "Mr. Clark!!". Whether it was a student from 30 yrs ago, or from his last year teaching, he would recognize you and remember your name. Many told him he was their favorite teacher.The smile on his face came from knowing he had influenced a child in that way, not from being the favorite.

About 6 years ago, Larry started having some memory issues, and showing signs of dementia. On April 21, 2023 , Larry peacefully passed on with Shawn and Xan by his side. In the short time he was at Cedar Creek memory care in Tualatin, he won the hearts of the staff, and even did a little dance the week before he passed.

Larry will truly be missed by the people whose hearts he has touched throughout the years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his brother and sister. Larry is survived by his son Shawn, daughter Xan Sattler and son in law Tom, grandchildren Alyssa Clark, Shelby and Chayse Sattler, Lucas, Haley and Logan Henry, His Cousin Jim Fragola, and multiple nieces and nephews.