Tom C. Clark
1929 - Sept. 26, 2020
Tom Coyle Clark, Columbia, South Carolina and formerly of Portland, Ore., passed away Sept. 26, 2020 at the age of 91.
Tom grew up in Beaumont, Texas. He attended Kilgore JC and Southwestern University on athletic scholarships, before graduating from the University of Portland.
For most of his adult life, Tom lived in the Portland area, where he was an insurance executive, property manager, and investor. For many years, he was also a major force for Tennis in Portland Parks, a youth outreach program. Tom also founded a non-profit organization, People Helping People, to assist folks transitioning from substance abuse, mental health problems, and other difficulties. He operated halfway homes in Portland and in Beaumont.
After retirement, Tom returned to Texas before eventually moving to South Carolina. In 2017, he published "Pass It On; Sharing Life's Lessons."
Those wishing to make memorial contributions are encouraged to consider the Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina (PCSC) Foundation, 2817 Ashland Road, Columbia, SC 29210, or a charity of your choice.
Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits

Published by The Oregonian from Oct. 15 to Oct. 18, 2020.

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Memories and Condolences
for Tom Clark

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Here is the full obit for my uncle, Tom Clark, of Columbia, SC, and previously a resident of Portland, Oregon and Beaumont, Texas:
Tom C. Clark, a resident of the Columbia South Carolina Presbyterian Community, passed away on September 26, 2020 at the age of 91.
Born in Beaumont, Texas just prior to the beginning of the Great Depression, he was the youngest child of Dr. Frank Clark and Katherine Hooper Clark. In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his sister Agnes Julia Clark; brothers Franklin, Martin, and Jim Clark; and special friend Betty Jo Tucker. He is survived by nieces Jean Clark Gechter of Weatherford, Texas; Colleen Clark of Tampa, Florida, Gwen Clark Skelley of Nashville, Tennessee; Kathy Clark of Pendleton, SC; and Julia Clark Burr of Black Mountain, NC; nephews John Clark of Columbia, SC. and D. Marion Clark of Greensboro, Georgia; and loving friend Mary Lou Abbitt of Bedford, Texas.
Tom graduated from Beaumont High School, where he starred in basketball and tennis. He attended Kilgore Junior College and Southwestern University on athletic scholarships, before eventually graduating from the University of Portland. He loved tennis and played competitively until age 85. He also loved dogs, chocolate, and a lot of women.
For most of his adult life, Tom lived in the Portland, Oregon area, where he was an insurance executive, property manager, and investor. For many years, he was also a major force for Tennis in Portland Parks, a youth outreach program for hundreds of young people who otherwise would not have benefitted from the opportunity to play tennis. Tom founded a non-profit organization, People Helping People, to assist folks transitioning from substance abuse, mental health problems, and other difficulties. He operated a halfway home in Portland and, later, a second home in Beaumont.
After retirement, Tom returned to Texas, living in the Beaumont and Dallas-Fort Worth areas, before eventually moving to South Carolina to be near relatives.
Tom was one of the most upbeat, positive, happy individuals who ever existed, and he delighted in making others smile and laugh. Helping and inspiring happiness in others were his greatest joys. He loved both listening to music and singing. Among his favorites to sing were Pass It On (It Only Takes A Spark), The Yellow Rose of Texas, and You Are My Sunshine. He enjoyed listening to opera for hours on end.
For years, he kept notebooks full of sayings—many of which were original to Tom and some of which were borrowed. In 2017, he published on Amazon “Pass It On; Sharing Life’s Lessons,” containing some of his favorites, including “Making people happy is about as good as it gets.”
Tom Clark was a man of faith, love, generosity, and good will. Very importantly, he was a kind soul, through and through.
Tom’s family wishes to express our highest gratitude to Jan Blach, whose assistance and loving devotion to Tom during his Columbia years were magnificent, and great appreciation to the frontline staff of the Columbia Presbyterian Community retirement village for their loving and respectful care of our uncle in his last years, especially those in the Jasmine unit. We are also highly thankful for the care provided by Angie of the Crescent Hospice organization, whose warm, capable, and attentive services were of immense value and comfort during Tom’s final weeks of life on this earth.
Interment of ashes will be at 11 am, December 1, in the Clark family burial plot at Magnolia Cemetery in Beaumont, Texas. Those wishing to make memorial contributions are encouraged to consider the Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina (PCSC) Foundation, 2817 Ashland Road, Columbia, SC 29210, or a charity of your choice.

John Clark

Family

October 18, 2020

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