Billy Jack Clark: Oct. 7, 1929 – 2021
Billy Jack Clark, known as ‘Jack’ was born Oct. 7, 1929 in Cleveland, Okla., to Floyd Thomas Clark and Anna Wilma Barron-Clark. The Clarks moved to Oklahoma City when Jack was a child. Jack’s Uncle R.B. Clark owned an oil trucking company and Jack’s dad went to work for him driving an oil tanker truck.
Jack attended Shiedler Grade School there in Oklahoma City. Years later Floyd, Jack’s father, bought his father`s farm near Jones, Okla., and Jack, along with his three brothers then attended Nicoma Park Middle School and Jack went on to graduate from Jones High School. After Jack’s high school years, his mom and dad were no longer financially sufficient from working the farm so they both went to work for Douglas Aircraft in Oklahoma City and commuted daily.
At Douglas Aircraft, Jack’s father worked on C-47 military transport aircrafts, he was an expert welder and worked in his trade for 55 years. Jack’s mother was known there as “Annie the Riveter,” where she would fasten permanent mechanical rivets. After the war, the Clark family bought a building which Jack`s father turned into a welding shop and a restaurant in Jones, Okla. Jack’s favorite pastime during the early stages of his life were hunting cottontail rabbits and reading, especially comic books.
At the age of 17, Jack moved to Ithaca, N.Y., where his brother was living. Shortly after, he went back to California where his parents were. There in California, Jack joined the Army, with basic training at Camp Roberts. After training, Jack was active in the Korean War and was sent to Europe, being stationed in Bordeaux, France. After some time, Jack was sent back to California where he was discharged from the Army. After being discharged, he rejoined with his parents who were then living in Ventura, Calif. It was in Ventura where Jack met his first wife Shirley Copus, and they had two sons, Randy Lane Clark, and Alan Dale Clark.
After years with his family and Jack’s divorce with Shirley, Jack moved to Coos Bay, Ore., where he met his second wife Gayla Ann Walker. They were happily married for 35 years. Jack’s hobby and passion for many years was as a professional bass angler on the waters of the western U.S.A and Oregon accumulating 81 trophies and over $25,000 in winnings. In 2019, Gayla passed away and Jack’s wishes are to be buried beside her at Springfield Memorial Gardens. Services are in care of Major Family Funeral Home in Springfield. Please visit majorfamilyfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book.
