Gary S. Clark

Gary Stan Myers Clark, known to most simply as Gary, and to those closest to him as Dad, Pops, or Pop, passed away on April 5, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was 91 years old.

Gary was born on March 24, 1935, in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, to Worley H. Clark and Grace Ethel Clark née Bledsoe. He grew up with three brothers, Warner, H, and Harrell, and a sister, Geraldine in the heart of Appalachia, a place that never left him. Throughout his entire life, Gary carried the culture, customs, mannerisms, and speech of Appalachian people with deep pride. No matter where the world took him, and it took him many places, his roots stayed firmly planted in those mountains.

Gary earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Advertising from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and upon graduation he married the love of his life, Patricia Ann Elder. Together they built a family and a life full of adventure, raising three children: Lori, Leslie, and Gary Brent. His career took him all over the world, and somewhere along the way he realized that travel was more than a job requirement; it was a passion. So he did what Gary would do. He opened a travel agency, which gave him and Patricia the opportunity to explore the globe together, sometimes bringing the children and grandchildren along for the ride.

He was also an avid art collector, an enthusiastic fisherman, and above all, a storyteller. Gary could hold a room like few others, spinning tales from his remarkable life with the kind of warmth and humor that made people lean in closer.

Gary was, by all accounts, larger than life. In his younger years, he could be imposing, a force that filled whatever room he walked into. As the years passed, his family often said he became more like himself, softer in the ways that mattered, more caring, easier to be with, though never any less magnetic. He made friends effortlessly, connecting with people from all walks of life. He had a particular gift for welcoming his children's friends into the fold, bestowing on many of them the unofficial title of "honorary Clark."

Gary had two grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and two “bonus” great grandchildren.

In 2020, Gary lost his best friend and partner of decades when Patricia passed away. Her absence shaped his remaining years, but he continued forward with the resilience that defined him. He loved and appreciated those who cared for him in his final years, and he often sang their praises openly and generously.

Gary was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Patricia Ann Clark; his mother, Grace Ethel Clark; and his father, Worley H. Clark.

He is survived by his daughter, Lori Clark Burdeaux, married to Thomas DeWitt Burdeaux, Jr.; his daughter, Leslie Clark Hansen, wife of Bruce E. Hansen, deceased; and his son, Gary Brent Clark, married to Trisha Crawford Clark. Additionally, he is survived by his brother H Clark and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as, his two grandchildren, Donald Joseph Rivers, Jr., and Paul David Goodman; and three great grandchildren, Thomas Joseph Rivers Baragwanath, Clare Lockheart Goodman, and Ellison McCune Goodman. His two bonus great grandchildren Luke and Marin also survive him.

May Gary find peace in the arms of the Lord he quietly carried with him, reunited now with his Patricia, resting in the grace that sustained him through a long and richly lived life.

A memorial celebration of life will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Smith and Kernke Funeral and Cremation Directors, 14624 North May Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134. All who knew and loved Gary are welcome to come, share a story, and celebrate a man who never met a stranger.