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W. Clark Obituary
LINCOLN -- Hon. W. Murray Clark, 82, of Murray Drive, died Jan. 7, 2010, at Littleton Regional Hospital surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on Jan. 26, 1927, in West Milan, to Edward Pullman Clark and Florence Loretta (Murray) Clark. In 1944 Murray graduated from Lincoln High School. He was valedictorian, class president, and at age 17, the youngest member of his class. His valedictory address focused on expressions of gratitude. On behalf of his classmates, he presented the school with an honor roll that listed the names of Lincoln High School members who were in the service, "working and fighting that others may have the chance to graduate from Lincoln High School as free Americans."
In March, 1944, he met with a recruiting officer and agreed to enlist in the U.S. Navy for 24 months. He arranged to leave in the fall, so that he could help his parents at the Ranch (Clark's Trading Post) through the summer season. The Navy selected Murray for the Officer's Training Program. He attended both William's College and Brown University for this training.
On Oct. 25, 1952, he married Barbara Avery.
Along with his brother Edward Murray Clark, he was co-owner of Clark's Trading Post in Lincoln. His legacy as Bear Trainer, showman, and entertainer at Clark's Trading Post spans many decades and is continued by his family today.
IN HIS LIFE: Elected to the State of New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1972, he served 10 years as a Representative to the General Court. Over the years, he was active in several community organizations; serving as a fireman on the North Woodstock Fire Department, as a Boy Scout leader, and as the second president of the Lincoln-Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. He leaves his wife of 57 years, Barbara Avery Clark; his children, Nola C. Grant and her husband Callum, and children Rory, Iain, and Bridie Grant, Maureen S. Clark and her husband Vladimir Akhlatkin, Murray A. Clark and his wife Sylvia, and children Grant, Liam, and Willa, and Andrew A. Clark and Whitney Henault, and their children, Mason and Emma Clark; and many nieces and nephews. His brother Edward Murray Clark died Sept 24, 2009.
SERVICES: Public calling hours will be held Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Lakeview Reception Room at Indian Head Resort, 664 U.S. Rte 3, Lincoln. Funeral services are private. Burial will be in the spring at Riverside Cemetery in Lincoln. A public memorial service will be held on June 12 at the Pavilion at Clark's Trading Post. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army, 177 Union Ave., Laconia 03246 or to The NH Humane Society, PO BOX 572, Laconia 03246. Arrangements are entrusted to Fournier-Hale Funeral Home, 144 Main St, North Woodstock. For more information go to www.edmundfournier.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for W. Clark
tricia mcintosh
January 27, 2010
my prayers are with the family he was such a great part of the bear show i have been going for many years and i am grateful 2 years ago i asked him to take a picture with my daughter so we can always remember him and his bear cane
January 16, 2010
I have been going to Clark's since I was a little girl. I remember at that time they had tin cans on a string which the bears would pull up to them to get the food. When I got older, I brought my children there, and now I bring my grandchildren. Clark,s is a wonderful memory in my family's history. Thank you! Gail Perry, Lakeville, Ma
Carol Nicholeris
January 14, 2010
Murray Clark was an amazing individual and another member of the "greatest generation," living a life full of purpose and intent. Thank you, Mr. Clark, for all that you have done for so many, human and beast alike, throughout your lifetime. It was a pleasure and an honor to have met and talked with you at various times when visiting "the Post". Such a life, well lived, will live on in the memory of all. Deepest sympathies to the Clark family.
Steve Anderson
January 14, 2010
I miss sitting under the tree, next to the bear ring, talking with Murray. We would sit on that bench almost once a week and just talk. Some of the best advice I ever recieved. Such a great man. I felt as I had a second father. Thanks for everything, Murray. The world has lost a great man and I have lost a great friend.
Kat Hitchmoth
January 13, 2010
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Clark Family. The bears will miss you Murray as will the many visitors from near and far that you have entertained over the years along with all of us NH natives. I grew up visiting my grandmother, Phylis Emerson in Woodstock and no summer was complete without a trip to Clark's. This year will be the first summer I will bring my grandson. The legacy that you and your brother Ed left us will be enjoyed by many more in the years to come. We thank you for your smile, your humor and your devotion to that which you loved.
Linda & Bruce McCabe
January 13, 2010
For the last fifty years I have been going to Clark's Trading Post. I am now sixty years old and my husband and I still enjoy riding the train, watching the bears and sharing cold drinks under the trees. We have watched the Clark children and extended family members grow into fine adults. Murray we will miss your sense of humor and bright smile. May you rest in peace.
Dick & Doreen Masters
January 13, 2010
he was my idea of the consumate 'yankee'. He could make anything out of whatever he had available and make it do the job that he wanted done. I did business with him once in that I flew the hot air balloon at the trading post's 50th anniversary. the deal was that I fly and he payed.After the flight, in the dark, he came over and said that he owed me some money. He reached in his pocket and handed me a wad of money and I put it in my pocket. He asked me if I wanted to count it. I said do I have to? We shook hands and that was the end of it. To me that reflected the kind of person Murrey was. he will be sorely missed.
Dick & Doreen Masters
Thornton, NH
Ann Emerson-Knott
January 13, 2010
I grew up visiting Clark's Bears and passed that tradition on to my children. Murray's TLC to the bears you have and his showmanship will be missed by many people.
Murray attended high school with my mother and my aunt and uncles. So I write this memory from my entire family, now deceased, the family of Anne Emerson in the little white house beside the Pemi & covered bridge # 40 in Woodstock. May they all meet again out there and Murray will have a cub following him about for sure.
Mike Rutherford
January 12, 2010
Clark's has been a part of my Summer vacations since 1975 and now I share this with my children. All I can say is, Thank you, Mr. Clark, you helped many families to create family memories and you WILL be missed by many.
Mr.&Mrs. Raymond Pawlikowski
January 12, 2010
So sorry to hear that Murray has passed away. Memories of him in the ring with his bears will never be forgotten by us. We visited the Trading Post many times and always felt as if we were someplace special.
We share in your sorrow.
Daryl Lavigne
January 12, 2010
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Bryan & Sue Flagg
January 12, 2010
Murray was as much a part of this north country as was our beloved "Old Man of the Mountains." He will be sorely missed. We just saw him out feeding the ducks last week!
Just know our thoughts are certainly with you all. There' snothing that can be said, that hasn't been already.
Bryan & Suzanne Flagg
Publishers - Northcountry News & Mountainside Guide
Warren, NH
wayne/doris tetley
January 11, 2010
nola, maureen, murray,andrew and your families - our deepest sympathy to you all - like many others we grew up in lincoln and brought up our families there and didn't miss a season visiting clark's and especially the bear show - we will always remember murray and his comments to his bear family and his audiences- he always made us laugh - the wayne tetley family
January 11, 2010
Dear Maureen,
Time and time with family and friends will help. With sincerest sympathy.
Respectfully,
Randall Gilden
Seattle, Wa
January 11, 2010
We have our memories of the days at Clarks...It was an Honor to be part of the family for the time we were there...Wolfman (part-time) and (Park Janitor's)
Rick & Judy Lodge
Walter Guptill
January 10, 2010
Like so many others we have fond memories of Clark's Trading Post and Murray Clark. We first visited CTP during our honeymoon 32 years ago and have returned many times with our three children. Love Murray's humor, especially about the bear cubs being born in the spring......"provided there was a wedding the previous fall"......... His impact on the life of so many will be felt for many generations to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Clark family and especially his wife of 57 years!
Willis Lott
January 10, 2010
Our prayers to the Clarke family in their loss. A friend who will be forever remembered by us all.We will miss you Murray, be with the angels
Rev. Dr. Christopher Drew
January 10, 2010
Dear Clark Family-
Yet another of New Hampshire's finest and most interesing individuals has passed from our midst. My memories of Clark's goes all the way back to the 1950's when my parents would stop to let me see the bears on the poles and maybe even feed them via the can on the rope.
A generation later my daughter was fascinated watching and photographing the "bear show" one afternoon. The ingenuity, the desire to create something that would please others has left a wonderful legacy and memory.
You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
January 10, 2010
Sincere sympathy in the loss of this icon...Sr. Mary Norberta, Bangor, ME (formerly of Boston)
Sr. Norberta
January 10, 2010
Sincere sympathy in the loss of this icon...Sr. Mary Norberta, Bangor, ME (formerly of Boston)
Helen W.
January 10, 2010
This man and his family have given my family a very special gift every summer for the past 19 years. Thank-you so much, and may you rest in peace Mr. Clark.
Sheila Meyer
January 10, 2010
My sincere condolences in the loss of this giant of a man. My mother went to school with him, and my cousin Edmond Gionet, has been taking me to see his bears for the past 50 years. I will treasure the signed postcard his presented me this past summer while we were there. Such a charming man always. Sheila Meyer, Old Town, ME
Rosemary Dubovick
January 10, 2010
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.
January 10, 2010
It was very sad to find out about his passing. I had been going to Clarks bears since I was very young,took my three children there then later my grandchildren he will surely be missed. Rose Harold and family Fall River Ma.
Blanche Hardy
January 10, 2010
Meeting at least part of your family and Mr. Clark himself has been an honor. Though we move from NH we miss going every summer to the Trading Post. We brought the kids and then the grandkid. Please know your family is in our prayers. I also hope Clark's will go on for generations. It is a wonderful place to visit and see how animals are treated with kindness and love. And the people show kindness and love to all.
Thankyou Mr. Clark you will be missed.
Richard Waystack
January 10, 2010
Mr. Clark and his family were such a part of my family's life. I came to Clark's as a child with my Mom & Dad, and brought my children many, many times from Cape Cod! His impact will always be imprinted in our hearts. Our deepest condolences from Cape Cod.
Fondly,
Richard Waystack
Harwich, Cape Cod
The Croteau's
January 10, 2010
A legend has left us; very sad to my family. I am glad I took my daugher last summer to see the bears on the 60 Anniversary. Over the years my family and I have enjoyed "the bear whisperer's" unique talent and love for his bear family. My prayers are with the family and his bears. There is a special place for him in heaven and with his bears.
Linda Paxton
January 10, 2010
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Murray's family.
My husband and I spend summers in Alton Bay, NH. Murray and I shared a love for antique sewing machines. He very kindly helped me finish restoring my Fancy Legs Florence sewing machine by creating a new pitman arm for my machine. He was generous with his time and knowledge of antique sewing machines. My husband and I have been to Clark's Trading Post many times bringing our children and grandchildren. Murray will be greatly missed.
Ed Landry
January 10, 2010
Please accept my deepest sympathies.
January 10, 2010
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
kim bennett
January 10, 2010
We have been going to Clarks for years with our kids along with Santa Village, and Storyland, the kids now 14 and 16 outgrew the latter two places but not Clarks. What wweekend are we going to see the bears they would and still ask, even now they never tire of the Wolfman or any of it we visit each place almost religiously the meuseums they always find something they didnt seee the year before and they loved picking MR.Murray out of the crowd walking around. The near show was alwys taaken in twice those days and we loved hangomg around the upper deck and watching them in their enclosures. Be vety proud of him and feel lucky that a man as aco,plished and still plain and simple was a part of your lives I know we all are Rest in Peace.
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