Clark Duane Tisdale, 83, of Plano, Texas, formerly of Victoria, passed away Sunday, November 5th, 2017 from complications of a blood clot to the lung. He was born June 22nd, 1934, in Weslaco, TX to Bill and Ramona Tisdale. Bill was a farmer and Ramona was a homemaker. Duane was the oldest of three children. He had two younger brothers, Dean and Jim, and the family lived down in south Texas for most of their young lives.
While growing up in the valley and going to school, Duane learned how to speak Spanish fluently from the native speakers, as well as formal Spanish at school. As a teenager, he would have odd jobs during the summers, picking cotton and working on farms to make extra money for the family. Along the way, he discovered that he had some musical talent while in school and became an accomplished vocalist and trumpet player.
While in undergrad at Pan American University in Edinburgh, TX, he was having a tough time declaring a major. He asked one of his advisors if he should pursue music full time and when his advisor found out that he was already taking pre-med courses, he told Duane that he should become a doctor, as that would be a better life. Duane took his advice to heart, but never stopped playing the trumpet or singing and became the music director at his local church until he went off to medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, MO. That was an adventure in itself, as Duane had never been to Missouri. Considering all uncertainties, he packed his suitcase wisely and on the day of departure, in typical Duane fashion, he wore his cowboy boots and cowboy hat with rifle in hand, ready to board the bus.
While at medical school, he was introduced to Katy Gupton through a mutual friend. After a period of dating, Duane proposed marriage and the big day was September 6th 1958. After Duane finished medical school, the young couple moved down to Houston, TX, where he finished his internships. He set up his first clinic in 1960 in a small south Texas town called Moulton, where he became the local family doctor.
He and Katy lived in Moulton for a few years and while there, Duane garnered a reputation of trusted physician and healer. Katy was Duane’s office manager and together, they were a great team. Duane not only saw patients in the office, but also made house calls, delivering babies at patient homes and even having the honor of a patient or two naming a son after him. While in Moulton, Katy gave birth to their first son, Mark Edward on March 20th, 1962 then two years later, a second son, Lee Anthony ‘Tony’ on February 20th 1964. Eventually, the small family moved to Victoria, TX, where Duane practiced medicine for the majority of his career. While there, the final addition to the family and only daughter, Stephanie Kay was born May 10th 1967.
Duane began building his practice in Victoria and soon, word got around that he spoke fluent Spanish. Consequently, a large part of his practice was formed from the local Hispanic community. Along with traditional payment for services rendered, he would frequently receive more personalized ‘thank yous’ in the form of food, which included home made Mexican dishes, desserts and other delights.
While practicing medicine, he continued his love of music, performing as a vocalist and trumpet player in his spare time. He became an active member of the Community Choir, performing throughout the years with his favorite times singing Handel’s ‘Messiah’ during the Christmas season. In fact, he and his daughter, Stephanie, sang a duet from ‘The Messiah’ in one of the Goliad missions one year. He also sung in local barbershop quartets, was a cantor on occasion at a local Jewish synagogue, played his trumpet professionally and a favorite role one year was as ‘King Kaspar’ from a production of ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’.
In addition to his musical hobbies, Duane was an avid coin collector, eventually opening up a coin and pawn shop for his father to run. He also enjoyed hunting and did so with his immediate family, brothers, cousins and friends.
After he had been in practice for several years, he decided that he would become board certified to work in the ER. So, in addition to his private practice, he worked part time in the ER for 10 years. Later in his career, he practiced in California and other parts of Texas, before finally settling down in Tyler, TX in the 90s. Finally, after practicing medicine for 50 years, he retired in February of 2010, when he had a heart valve replacement and decided he should take care of his own health at that point.
No one could dispute that Duane had a lust for life. He traveled as much as he was able and was always interested in new experiences. Throughout his lifetime, he has been to Mexico on multiple occasions, to Spain with his oldest son, Mark, to Canada with his daughter, Stephanie and to England with his middle son, Tony and his family. He has gone parasailing, seen live bullfighting, the World’s Fair in Vancouver, had ‘high tea’ both in British Columbia and London and walked the beautiful beaches in Hawaii more than once. His last big trip was to Hawaii in July of 2016 with his entire family. Duane loved his family very much and insisted on financing the majority of the trip for all. The only person missing from that trip was his beloved Katy, who had passed in August of 2013.
No one can deny that Duane had a big personality. There was never a dull moment when he was around. He will be sorely missed by both family and friends, but we should all take a page from his life and remember to live life to its fullest and don’t let opportunities pass you by.
Duane is survived by his sons, Mark Tisdale, independent business owner and his wife Diana, of Victoria, TX, Dr. Tony Tisdale and his wife Ruth of Roanoke, TX and daughter, Stephanie Payne, Physician Assistant and her husband Jim, of Lewisville, TX. He is also survived by his brother Dean and his wife Mary of Boerne, TX and their children, along with his youngest brother, Jim, who is currently still in practice as an optometrist, his wife Jan and their children, of Victoria, TX. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ashlee and her husband Blaine, Rachel and the youngest grandchild, Michael. In addition to his parents, Duane was preceded in death by his wife Katy.
Visitation will be Friday, November 17, 2017 from 6-8 pm at Rosewood Funeral Chapels. Funeral services will be Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 10 am at Baptist Temple Church with Rev. J. V. Helms officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Terry Tisdale, Wesley Tisdale, Blake Tisdale, Chase Tisdale, Michael Tisdale, John Perry, Jim Payne and Blaine Culver. Honorary pallbearers will be Darryl Tisdale, David Perry, Stephen Perry and Tony Lespron.
Memorials may be made to Total Hospice and Palliative Care, 331 Melrose Drive, Suite 230, Richardson, Texas, 75080.
Visit www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.
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