Earl Charles Clark
November 17, 1944 ~ May 5, 2021
Born in:
Buncombe Co., NC
Resided in:
Leicester, NC
Earl Charles Clark, 76, passed away Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at Mission Hospital ICU after a short battle with lung cancer. He was born November 17th, 1944 to the late Charlie and Helen Sluder Clark.
He was a 1964 graduate of Clyde A. Erwin High School where he drove a school bus. Earl was previously employed at NAPA for 36 ½ years and was co-owner of Clark’s Service with son Marty.
He was a member, Trustee and former superintendent of Mountain View Freewill Baptist Church in Alexander.
Earl enjoyed fishing and growing flowers and vegetables, and spending time with the family.
He was predeceased by his younger brother, Wayne Clark, and his in-laws, Elmer and Ila Parham.
Earl is survived by his middle school sweetheart of 55 years, Shirley Jean Parham Clark; sons, Ricky Clark (Missie) and Marty Clark; grandson, Colin Clark; step-grandson, Jacob Daley; brother, Jerry Clark (Diane) of FL; sister-in-law, Debbie Parham; uncles, Ray and Bill Sluder (Josie); and many cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 8 at 3:00 p.m. at Mountain View Freewill Baptist Church, with the Rev. Anthony Fox officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Steven Parham, Steven Marlor, Kelly Sluder, Mike Sluder, Keith Moore and Victor Rash.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Earl’s family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, calls, prayers and visits during Earl’s illness.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family to assist with funeral expenses.
Services
Visitation: May 8, 2021 2:00 pm
Mountain View Freewill Baptist Church
Alexander Road
Alexander, NC 28701
Funeral Service: May 8, 2021 3:00 pm
Mountain View Freewill Baptist Church
Alexander Road
Alexander, NC 28701
Burial: May 8, 2021 4:00 pm
Mountain View Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery
Alexander Road
Alexander, NC 28701
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
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Ricky and family,we are sorry to read about your loss,we will be praying for all you,remember this is only a temporary separation,let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Steve& Yvonne Higgins
Dear Earl,
You have been the best brother-in-law that I could ever have wished for. You have always been there for me through out my 62 years. You were always close by if I needed a shoulder to cry on, if i needed help with something or if my toilet needed fixing or my water filters needed changing. I could go on & on about how good you were to Shirley & Daddy & Mama& me. You were like a son to them & a brother to me.You were a friend to everybody & I never heard anyone say any thing bad about you. We all had our spats as all families do but making up & saying we’re sorry always made us feel better. Please forgive me for embarrassing you when you & Shirley were dating but I was just a child. Later I got to feel like a grown-up when I got to be a flower girl in your wedding & later after your 50th anniversary party, being invited to accompany you two as your chaperone, to the Steak & Shake, as you ate at one in Florida, on your honeymoon. I hate that you had to leave us so soon & that the cancer was taking over your body. You were never one to complain as you would always say you were fine & you would be more concerned about others than yourself. You took care of my sister & would do things to help her even when you could barely help yourself & that is what keeping your wedding vows meant. I’m sorry I wasn’t there at your bedside to say goodbye but I sent you my prayers but as Shirley said, God needed you more. I know you are in a much better place now & rid of that old cancer & having a grand reunion with all your loved ones who were awaiting your arrival. We will forever cherish the memories you made while down here on Earth. We will miss hearing your fishing stories & the time your cap blew off into the lake. Remember the deep sea trip we took & we got sick & made long distance calls to Europe over the rails as you called it. Colin will forever cherish the many times you went fishing with him & Ricky. He caught the fishing bug from the both of you even as a toddler when he would fish with his Pa. You took over Pawser’s place in helping Marty when he took over the farming as Pawser taught you when you became his son-in-law. You liked to tease Mama as much as she liked to tease you right back. Remember when the stroke affected her speech until you got her angry & then we understood everything she said. We all got a laugh over that & even Mama had to laugh. Remember when I would tell people I was your daughter & to see the looks on their face & your face too. Just know Earl that I love you & I will miss you terribly. Love, Debbie
Shirley, I am so sorry to hear of Earls passing. He was a great guy. I always enjoyed talking to him. So humble! He loved you and your family So Much. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Love, Freda Nodine
So sorry to hear the passing of Earl our prayers are with you all.
Clarence and I are praying for all the family, especially for his wife Shirley!! What a wonderful and sweet couple we love dearly!! Shirley is a cousin of mine, as she would know me as Judy J. Hawkins Owenby!! ❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻 So sorry to hear of Earl’s passing!! We did not know he was so sick!! May God send HIS Loving Grace to Sustain you all each day ahead!! Earl was a wonderful, Christian Man!! He will be missed by many❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🥰🥰
Shirley, I’m so sorry to hear about Earl. Alice and I are in Knoxville caring for an elderly cousin this week and will not be able to come to Asheville. We will keep you in our prayers.
So sorry for your loss . Earl was a pleasure to work with for so many years at NAPA . Our prayers go out to Shirley, Ricky , Marty and the family .
Shirley & family. SO sorry 4 ur loss. It’s hard, especially this wk-end. Earl was a nice friendly guy. May GOD comfort u all, during these sad days ahead. Prayers, for the family. GOD BLESS!!!
Shirley, Ricky,Marty,Debbie Earl is in a better place then we are no more hurt. We had bunches of fun at work. i remember the almond&joy that he took the choclotte off and picked out the coconut and fill it with salt and put the choclotte back on the top and put it back in the pack. So he broke the guy from eaten his candy bar.
Shirley and family praying God gives you strength and comfort you all during this time of sorrow.
To the Family of Earl Clark:
We wish to express our deepest sympathy on the passing of your beloved Earl. I, Jim (Turp), knew him from Elmer Parham. I knew him for years and thought a lot of him. I am sure he is in a better place. He will be greatly missed! May you feel God’s comfort as you grieve. Jim Turpin & daughter, Betsy Turpin Crawford
We are so sorry for your loss. We love you all so much. Earl was a good man. He will be missed. Our greatest memory of Earl is how he took such great care of his family and never complained when things were difficult. He is an ispiration to all of us. We sure do miss his smiling face, but we know we will see him again soon. Praising God for the time we knew Earl. May god continue to comfort and bless you in this time of need. We love you, Ray, Carrie, and kids