James O. Clark

James O’Fairell Clark, passed away Friday, March 22, 2013 after a brief illness. He was born in DeQueen, AR. on May 31, 1940 to Sabesker O’Fairell and Lucille Clayton Clark. James graduated from DeQueen High School in 1958 and briefly attended Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, OK. That is where he met and married Linda Morgan in 1963. James served in the U.S. Army from 1963-1965, and was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA. After his honorable discharge, he worked for 17 ½ years at the Martin Army Hospital and Bernheim Dental Clinic at Fort Benning before moving to Wilson, OK., where Linda was the pastor of the United Methodist Church. In 1986, they moved to Muskogee. James was well known for his love of music and his considerable talent at the organ. He began playing the piano for church at the age of four and taught himself to play the organ by the age of 14, where he played for the Catholic Church services in DeQueen. James was a church organist everywhere he lived, and at the time of his illness, he was the director of music and the organist at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Muskogee, where he had served since 1992. James was also a gifted florist, having learned the craft by working after school at the DeQueen Florist Shop. For the past several years, James worked at I’m A Basket Case in Muskogee. James was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his son, Shannon Douglas Clark and wife, Traci of Tahlequah; his daughter, Dana Michelle Brassfield and husband, Jimmy of Braggs; his two sisters, Dorothy Hensley of Oklahoma City and Julia White of Nashville, TN; his brother, Harvey Clark of Pearcy, AR.; the mother of his children, Linda Morgan-Clark of Muskogee; his grandchildren, Avalon, Gryffyn, and Jacquelyn; several nephews and nieces; and other family members and friends. Family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at Cornerstone Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Muskogee with Rev. Mike Hart and Rev. Thea McKee officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Gibson National Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers will be Jim Cole, Rick Ewing, Keith Garrison, Gerald Shores, Everett Wieby and Leslie White. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Robert Brownell, Mark Dieman, Garret Weiby and Gryffyn Clark. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Muskogee Musical Arts Society, 812 Choctaw, Muskogee, OK 74403. Funeral services are under the direction of Cornerstone Funeral Home and Crematory, 1830 N. York Street, Muskogee, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.cornerstoneofmuskogee.com

James O. Clark

May 31, 1940 - March 22, 2013