Rev. R. Clair Clark

Rev. R. Clair Clark

March 27, 1920 – November 17, 2019

With sadness and with gratitude for a life well-lived, the family announces that Clair Clark passed away at Woodstock General Hospital in Woodstock, Ontario on Sunday, November 17, 2019.  He was ninety-nine years old.

Reginald Clair Clark was born on March 27, 1920, in Orillia, Ontario.  He was the fourth of six children of the late Charles Nelson Clark and the late Nina Barbara Parson.  His five siblings predecease him: Clifford Clark, Mervyn Clark, Doris Fletcher, Delma Clark and Bruce Clark.

Clair is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years Mary Leith Clark (nee Jamieson) and his three children: Ruth Hall (Chris) of Duncan, BC; Jane Clark of Halifax, NS; and Jim Clark (Bill Leonard) of Ottawa. He was the grandfather of four: Ben Hall (Kirstin) of Salmon Arm, BC; Meghan Sumner (Brad) of Langley, BC; Lauren Clark-Gallant (John Wray) of Kentville, NS; and Alexander Clark-Gallant (Megan McCarthy) of Stillwater Lake, NS.  He also leaves seven great-grandchildren.

Clair grew up in Orillia, Ontario.  From 1941 to 1945, he served overseas with the Royal Canadian Air Force.  He was decorated (Mentioned in Despatches) for his service with Airborne Radar.  Following the war, he prepared for the Baptist ministry by completing a B.A. at the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Divinity at McMaster University.  Clair served churches in Bentinck and Clinton as a student.  Following his ordination, he and Mary served First Baptist Church in Dryden, Ontario and First Baptist Church in Woodstock.  Subsequently, he was the chaplain at the Oxford Regional Centre in Woodstock and late in his career, he coordinated pastoral care in southwestern Ontario.  During this time, he made a significant contribution by assisting in the creation of New Life Prison Ministries.

Clair and Mary had a cottage on Eagle Lake near Dryden and treasured the time they spent there.  Retirement gave them the chance to spend long, restorative summers at the lake. 

Over the course of his long life, Clair had a large circle of friends and colleagues.  During his working years and later, Clair was involved in the wider Baptist community in Canada.  He was a member of Probus and led a men’s breakfast group.  The friendships Mary and Clair made in northwestern Ontario continued for decades.  And of course, their church community in Woodstock provided friendship and support for many years.

            A memorial service to honour Clair's life will be held at First Baptist Church, 603 Adelaide St., Woodstock on Saturday, November 30, 2019, at 11:00 am with Rev. Andrew Bellous officiating and Rev. Bud Hooper assisting. Interment later in the St. Andrews and St. James Cemetery, Orillia. Online condolences at www.brockandvisser.com  

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