Robert Louis Clark Sr.

1934 - 2023

Robert (Bob) Louis Clark, Sr. of Conway, Arkansas, passed away at home on July 1, 2023, at the age of 89. Bob was born to Louise Taylor Clark and James Franklin Clark on Jan. 9, 1934, in Conway, Arkansas. He graduated from Conway High School and Hendrix College before attending the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Bob, Bobby Louis, or "Doc" was a physician-rancher who loved to fly airplanes, hunt, ski and watch thunderstorms on his porch in his overalls.

Bob is survived by his wife, Leanna Cotton Lee Clark; his children, Robert Clark, Jr (Shelley), Georgia Clark Ross, Michael Clark (Linda), Daniel Clark (Annie); his stepchildren, Christopher Lee (Misty) and Michael Lee (Lauren); and numerous grandchildren, Allison Clark, Levi Clark, Cole Clark, Sarah Ross Krehbiel (Cody), Eva Ross Wren (Lucas), Shelby Clark Bush (Dan), Calvin ("Cal") Clark-Reisbeck (Clayton), Lindsey Clark, Andrew Clark, Elizabeth ("Lizzie") Clark, Skylar Lee, Braeden Lee, Mary Elliott Lee, Adelaide Grace Lee and Clark Lee; and his niece and nephews, Jimmy, Laura and Paul Clark. He leaves three great grandchildren, Kaci and Kaiden Krehbiel, and Aleigha Bush. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louise and James Clark; his brother and sister-in-saw, James Taylor ("Jim") and Bobbie Jean Clark; his son, William ("Bill") Clark; and stepson, Jason Lee.

Bob practiced medicine as a General Surgeon in Conway and the neighboring area including Clinton and Heber Springs. In the mid-80s, he started a small ranch, raising cattle. As he retired from medicine, the Flying C Ranch had grown into a substantial operation, which is currently a family-run farm.

Bob was an avid pilot getting his pilot's license at 16, a passion he shared with his brother, Jim, and son, Robert, Jr. Bob received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award on Aug. 10, 2009, recognizing 50 years of piloting experience.

Bob had a variety of hobbies that he shared with his family. Many hours were spent in the jeep "turning out the cows" with any and all who were around. Bob loved to hunt on Big Island, where the Arkansas, White, and Mississippi rivers meet. Hunting trips included family, especially his brother and nephews. He began SCUBA diving in the 80s and took several trips to the Bahamas and Mexico. Bob took up skiing in the late 1990s and it quickly became a passion of his for several decades. He shared his love of skiing with his wife, kids, and grandkids in the form of large family trips. He married Leanna during a family ski trip to Crested Butte, Colorado, and celebrated many more family trips at his favorite ski lodge, the Hotel St. Bernard in Taos, New Mexico.

Bob will be greatly missed by his family and the many, many friends he has touched over the years. A memorial service will be held at Roller Funeral Home in Conway, Arkansas, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 8. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Friends of the Faulkner County Animal Shelter (https://faulknercounty animalshelter.com/) to honor Bob's love of animals.