William Franklin Clark

William (Bill) Franklin Clark was born March 3, 1942 to Jess Clark and Myrtle Parsons Clark in Pettit, Oklahoma on his mother's Indian allotment. He entered Heaven's Gates on December 2, 2025. He moved with his family to Choska, Oklahoma where he began school, around age 6, in a two room schoolhouse. He attended Porter school in 4th and 5th grade, moved to Muskogee and attended Irving School, Alice Robertson Jr. High School and Muskogee High School.
William went to the Marine Corps Recruitment Depot (MCRS) in San Diego, California where he completed boot camp, then went to Camp Pendleton. In 1973 William began working for Oklahoma Department of Human Services where he served as a Juvenile Probation Officer, Child Protective Services Investigator, and Child Protective Services Supervisor.
William completed a bachelor's degree and master's degree, in psychology, at Northeastern State University and became a Licensed Professional Counselor. He completed all but a dissertation towards a Doctor of Philosophy degree at California Coast University, before he became ill. William worked at Cherokee Nation where he served as the Director of Indian Child Welfare, and eventually as the Executive Director of Human Service programs. He later worked in a clinical setting as a mental health counselor.
William married the love of his life, Brenda Rowland. He has four children, two from his first marriage and two with Brenda. William was an active father with his children and served as a father figure to many other children. He loved interacting with people, friends and family. William loved family and family gatherings he had a knack for engaging with people, and allowing them to feel comfortable.
William is an ordained minister with Lakeview Cathedral, Inc. He was artistically talented, completed many Native American drawings and paintings, participated in the Clark Family Singing Group, and loved to pick the guitar. William was a consummate advocate for children and families on the local, state and federal levels. William served on several task forces for child advocacy. He served on the National Indian Child Welfare Association board, located in Portland, Oregon, as an advocate for indigenous children and tribal sovereignty. While working at Cherokee Nation he interacted with the United States Government, in Washington DC, to expand and develop children's services. Some of the policies that William wrote were introduced into bills, by Senator John McCain, to the United States Congress, and eventually enacted into federal law. William also wrote and managed several grants that were granted to Cherokee Nation for ICW services. William served as a delegate to the Cherokee Nation 1999 Constitution Convention.
William was preceded in death by his parents, Jess and Myrtle Clark, brother Dewey Clark, sister Sally Monholland, brother Odell Clark, sister Mary Lou Martin, brother Jess Clark, sister Dean Monholland, and sister Sue Merrill.
William is survived by his wife, Brenda of the home; son William Jordan Clark, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; daughter, Kelsey Lauren Clark, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; son Brian Lee Clark and his wife Leslie Clark of Rolla, Missouri; and daughter, Angela Clark of Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma; sister, Maxine Macomb, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, brother, Doyle Clark and his wife Yolanda Clark, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, sister Beatrice Madewell, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and brother, Robert Eugene Clark, of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Grandchildren, Chellsiah Clark, of Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma, Palladin Crow, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, Briannon DeVon and husband Tristan, of Weatherford, Oklahoma, Jacque Mrozowicz and husband Greg of Rolla Missouri, Jillian Kuchar and husband Steve of Rolla Missouri, Robert Brossett and wife Heather of Cheltenham United Kingdom, Michael "Riess" Clark of Rolla Missouri, Cooper Clark of Springfield Missouri and William "Rafe" Clark of Yokosuka, Japan, Colt Jace Clark and Easton Kai Clark of Yukon, Oklahoma; and great grandchildren, and a large group of extended family and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA), 5100 S. Macadamia Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97239, (503) 222-4044.