William Kenneth Clark

William Kenneth (Ken) Clark, age 83, of Macclenny, Florida, died Tuesday morning, June 9, 2015 at Community Hospice in Jacksonville surrounded by his family. Born January 5, 1932, in Moultrie, Georgia, he was the son of the late William C. Clark and Dixie (Smith) Clark. Ken served as a fleet control manager in the trucking industry for more than 40 years. Since childhood, writing and singing traditional country and bluegrass music had been his passion. After servicing his country in the Air Force, Ken's band, Ken Clark and the Merry Mountain Boys, went on to play numerous shows in the Southeast and recorded for Starday Records in Nashville. Ken wrote over 300 songs including: Big Man, Pretty Love, and South Pacific Shore. His signature song was Buckskin Coat which tells the tragic story of a girl who gave up the true love of a country boy for the money and prestige of a boy from town. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Marsine Clark; along with four children; Darrel Clark, Gene Clark, Keith Clark (Dawn), and Will Clark (Amy); 4 grandchildren, Tyler Clark, Tery Clark, Harrison Clark, and Wes Dailey; 1 great-grandchild, Paige Clark; and many other friends and relatives. Memorial services for Ken Clark will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, June 12, 2015 from the Hardage-Giddens Town and Country Funeral Home on 7242 Normandy Blvd in Jacksonville. Burial will follow in Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family Thursday from 6:00 until 8:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida.