John Wesley Clark

John Wesley Clark, age 61, passed away in Dallas, Texas on the morning of December 19, 2023. His family surrounded him at hospital bedside to help send him peacefully home. They held his hands in prayer until he took his last breath.

John was born on September 28, 1962, in Dallas to David Kenneth Clark and Gloria Janell Clark. He grew up with his brother, David, and sister, Desiree, in Pleasant Grove. He married young and soon became a young father to Mindy DeAnn. Because he got such an early, unplanned start on adulthood, he never had much of an opportunity to pursue a career suitable to his greatest gifts. He made a living as a plumber for most of his working-life, but at heart he was a poet, a musician, an artist, and a servant. John gave important advice to Mindy growing up that she shares with her students every school year. “Pick something that you love to do for a living, something you look forward to getting up for each day and that has meaning to you. Don’t let your work pick you.”

He developed a love for music early on in his life and it quickly became an ardent passion that would shape and inspire him for the rest of his life. It is one of the many ways he connected with people and made sense out of a weary world. John suffered from untreated depression most of his life which certainly contributed to his alcoholism and drug abuse in his thirties and early forties. It is important to mention the bleak times because his recovery speaks volumes to his tenacity, strength, fortitude, and desire to make things right with those he loved. He took his last drink in 2006 and built a sober life with his daughter in Fort Worth for the last 16 years he had.

During these years, he enjoyed attending concerts and following local rock and country artists. He loved playing his guitar even after a traumatic injury to his left hand that caused relentless pain for the rest of his life. Watching the Dallas Cowboys play football was a highlight for him, always joking that “life has no meaning after football season.” John had struggles and flaws like all of us, but he never gave up when it would have been easier to do so. He was a fighter, an outlaw, a believer in justice and equality for all people. Along with music and football, John loved art, politics, and his cat, Stinky. He had a giant heart and would do anything for his family or friends who he loved fiercely. John loved to get a rise with gallows humor and the dark comedy he was known for. He was a great storyteller with a booming laugh and a fresh take on well-worn topics. His jokes and stories were testament to the many adventures and interesting folks he met along his journey.

Our family is grateful to know that John is finally resting at peace.

He was preceded in death, by his mother, Gloria Clark; Aunts Phyllis Medford, Nora Vaughn, Jewel Dean, Patsy Harper, Paulette Wilman, Valerie West, Barbara Kay Clark; Uncles John C. Medford, H.R. Medford, E.L. West and Pete West; and niece Charity Dawn Clark.

He is survived by his daughter Mindy DeAnn Clark and her partner Shelby Grissett; father David Kenneth Clark; brother David Clark and wife Mary Jayne; sister Desiree Tarter and husband Terry; nephew Jared Clark; niece Amber Boykin and husband Chris; niece Amanda Mitchell and husband Aaron; nephew Zachary Tarter and partner Kayla; Uncles Herb Clark and Mike Smith, Wesley Clark, Aunt Barbara Jean West; cousins Darla Davis, Sharon Palmer and husband Joe, Elijah Eugene West, Becky Daniel, Kayte McCumber and Chuck Clark; great nephews River Fite, Ashton Clark, Noah Boykin and Jackson Tarter; great nieces Elizabeth Mooring, Samantha Clark and Lily Mitchell; dear friend Kathy Bagby.

Celebration of life will be held at Anderson-Clayton-Gonzalez Funeral Home in Mesquite, Texas on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 11am. In lieu of flowers, if you like, you can donate in his name to Homeward Bound Inc. Dallas or contact family to contribute to final costs.