Kenneth Clyde "K.C." Clark

Kenneth Clyde "K.C." Clark, 77, passed away Tuesday, January 25, at home surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara Joyce Clark, sons Danny (Liz) Clark, Ashland Mo., Dennis (Sheila) Clark and Darrel (Roxanne) Clark, both of the Wolf Ridge community, daughter Darlene (John) Tighe, Elizabeth City, N.C., brother Jimmy (Frances) Clark, Helena, brother Bernard Clark, Pascagoula, eight grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren with one on the way and a Jack Russell terrier named Lady, 7. K.C. was born on October 24, 1933 in Kreole to James and Willie Mae "Jim and Cricket" Clark. K.C. attended school at Orange Lake Elementary and Moss Point High School. Shortly after his 18th birthday in 1951, he began working at the International Paper Mill in Kreole. After saving his hard-earned money, K.C. was finally able to marry his "Little Country Girl" from Carnes, Barbara Joyce (Walker) Clark in September of 1952. In 1971, with four children and years of savings, K.C. and Barbara bought some land north of Escatawpa and built the place they always wanted. He was able to grow his own vegetables and fish out of his own pond. He also worked his way up the ladder at the Paper Mill, becoming Assistant Power Plant Superintendent in the late 70's. He continued to take care of "The Ridge" after he retired from the mill after 41 years of service in 1992. For the next 18 years he kept that place running with lots of help from Barbara and his son Dennis. A straightforward and hard-working man, K.C. believed that if a person wasn't working, he should either be eating or sleeping. Always one who practiced what he preached, when he wasn't working 40-plus hours at the Mill, K.C. enjoyed fishing, oystering, gardening, "piddling" around the house and sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee while visiting with friends and family. K.C. was a wonderful father, husband and grandfather, but he was an even better man. If he said he was going to do something, he did it, and did it right. He was blunt and honest, but also had a great love for his family and friends. He was also blessed with a wicked sense of humor, sly grin and a fantastic twinkle in his eye, which will be missed as much as the man himself. He was truly one-of-a-kind. He took care of as many of his friends, family and loved ones as he could during his 77 years, and his family was honored to take care of him in his time of need. He was preceded in death by both parents, a sister, Faye Tolar and a brother, Gerald Clark. The family would like to give special thanks to everyone who helped out during this time, especially our grandson, Joshua Clark and the nursing staff on the ground floor North at Singing River Hospital, the nursing staff at the SICU at Singing River Hospital, Becky Whitfield of Home Health, Samantha Williams, Carol Goe, Sheila Hinton and Susan Day, all of the Hospice of Light. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 26th from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Holder-Wells Funeral Home in Moss Point. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 27th at Safe Harbor United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Potter and Rev.Gene Vance officiating. Pianist Chris Lovely will provide music for the service. Bearers will be David Clark and Ernie Clark, nephews, Otis Ray Sheffield, cousin, and family friends Jimmy Dale Wells, Tim Rutledge and Paul Shepperson. Honorary Bearers are relatives and longtime friends Steve "Peter John" Tolar, N.C. "Barney" Bernard, James Vice, Robert Crowley, James "Peter Buck" McCann, Jimmy Bryant, Tommy "Butch" Smith and Roy King. Interment will follow at Serene Memorial Gardens in Escatawpa, MS. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Memory of Kenneth Clark to the Hospice of Light, 2012 Hwy. 90, Gautier, Ms., 39553. Arrangements by Holder-Wells Funeral Home, Moss Point, MS.

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Kenneth Clyde "K.C." Clark

October 24, 1933 - January 25, 2011