Clark Eugene Thompson

Clark Eugene Thompson was born on December 14, 1931, in Yakima, Washington. He died October 2, 2016, at the age of 84, following a prolonged illness. He lived in Cowiche where his parents, Clifford and Lydia Thompson, raised Clark and his brother Neal on their ranch.

Clark attended Cowiche Grade School and graduated from Highland High School in l950. While in high school he served as class president for two years and student body president his senior year. In his teenage years he became an Eagle Scout. As a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track, he often made headlines in The Yakima Morning Herald.

At Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore he continued his love of football while pursuing a BS degree in zoology. Four years later, Clark received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Hahnemann Medical School in Philadelphia where he met and married the love of his life, Shirley Ann Keckler. After his internship, he joined the United States Public Health Service and worked for two years on the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations in Keams Canyon, Arizona.

Following the completion of his service obligation, he joined Dr. James Zimmerman in Family Practice medicine at Highland Medical Clinic, and brought his young family to live among the apple orchards of Cowiche.

Upon the death of his father Clifford, Clark took over management of the ranch and continued his work in medicine, assisting in surgery.

Clark was very active in his beloved community serving on the Highland School Board, the board at Cowiche Growers, president of the Tieton Lions Club, and president of The Cascadians in Yakima. He volunteered for many years as the physician for the Highland High School sports teams providing free physicals and support to the teams.

He was a member of the West Valley Church for over 30 years.

Clark had a love of the outdoors. He hiked and knew most of the trails of Central Washington's mountains. On four occasions he climbed Mount Rainier. He set his foot on most of the peaks of the Northwest Cascades.

He was an avid competitor in regional triathlons, marathons in Hawaii, and completed two Ironman competitions in Canada.

For thirteen years Clark participated and won honors in the Gap to Gap competitions in Yakima. He was an avid swimmer and set several age specific records in Northwest swimming meets.

Clark's travels were not limited to the mountains of the northwest. He and Shirley traveled worldwide. He climbed in Nepal to Kala Pattar, trekked a tour around Mont Blanc, and cycled in The Netherlands.

Clark is survived by Shirley, his wife of sixty years, daughter Melanie (Mark) Caputo of Snoqualmie, son Scott (Ramona) Thompson of Cowiche, grandchildren Spenser Anderson and Sofia Caputo and brother Neal (Audrey) Thompson of Ashland, Oregon, plus nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Lydia Thompson.

A memorial service will be held at Rainier Memorial Center on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.

Clark was a gentle soul with an easy smile, loved by many and missed by all who knew him.

To share a memory of Clark, please visit www.keithandkeith.com