Ronald Wayne Clark

Ronald Wayne Clark, age 82 of Gladstone, Missouri passed away Friday, April 11, 2025 at home. Ron was born in a small doctor's office in Polo Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents Floy LaRue (Logan) Clark and Claude Winferd Clark, his brother Jay Logan (J.L.) Clark, his sister Jone (Clark) Perkins and nieces Allyson Clark and Alicia Garcia.
Ron graduated from Lawson High School in 1960. As President of his Senior class, he enjoyed and participated in band, choir, theater, and journalism. In sports: Baseball and Basketball.
Ron and his wife Becky (Henson) Clark of 37 years raised five wonderful children. Julie Wynn Clark of North Hollywood California, Dr. Joshua Bennett of Phoenix, Arizona, Nathan Bennett of Kansas City, Missouri, Emily (Clark) Morina of Lee's Summit, Missouri and Leah Clark of San Antonio, Texas.
Ron taught junior high, middle school, and high school band for thirty-eight years in the NKC school district. His first teaching job was in Appleton City, MO, where he taught all twelve grades, vocal and instrumental. He then spent three years of military duty in the Army band, where he was stationed in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and Fort Hood, Texas. Ron had an exciting and wonderful life filled with many awesome experiences hunting and fishing, many dogs, KC Royals, KC Chiefs, and a lifetime of wonderful music concerts. He felt most fortunate to spend so much time with his buddies, including family and friends enjoying time hunting and fishing in all the good places. Ron was so blessed to have lived his life the way he did with great credit going to his family for their love and support.
Ron loved teaching and watching a young person come into the music room for the first time with no or little music background or skill and leave a few years later with an appreciation of music and a higher level of playing skills that would prepare them to continue playing their instrument in high school. This was the best feeling of all, and he felt it to be his greatest achievement as a teacher. By the end of his long teaching career, he was so proud of his former students who have continued on in music; many of them became band directors. He was so proud of all his former students who continued to include music in their lives and who had an appreciation of "good" music.
As a teacher, Ron didn't get a lot of opportunities to play his euphonium/baritone horn, which he loved to do. So, in the spring of 2004, he pulled together a few fellow band directors and helped form the NorthWinds Symphonic Band. He started as band manager and played in this highly regarded ensemble for eleven years. It was his pride and joy as a player and he continued for as long as he was able, enjoying the love of music, the camaraderie, and performing.
Ron also leaves a legacy of a large family, including grandkids, great-grandkids, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great nephews all of whom he loved and held dear in his heart.
Ron didn't want a sad funeral so there will be a Celebration of Life with lots of music and memories on June 7, 2025 at North Kansas City High School, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.