Gordon Horace Clark

In 1956 he graduated from Warren Easton High School in New Orleans, LA. From there he attended LSU and then University of Missouri where he met his wife Grace Patricia (Pat) Clark. They were married in 1960 and had a loving, dedicated marriage for over 59 wonderful years.

Gordon was an avid hiker and backpacker during his days in the Seattle Washington area from 1964 - 1981. His favorite spots included the Coast of The Olympic Peninsula, Mt. Rainier and The North Cascades. He played basketball for years and was on the winning “Over 40 Team” when he was a member at the Washington Athletic Club in the 70's. He never turned down an opportunity to go fishing, and when his brother in law Lee Matherne called, he'd be down the bayou by sunrise with visions of trout dancing in his head. He never met a crab or an oyster that wasn't calling his name. He'd happily spend hours shucking oysters and convincing newbies to give them a try.

He had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Jazz Music. Growing up in New Orleans gave him a unique window into the great Jazz, Be-Bop and Big Band sounds of the 50's. He played the trombone during high school and college and recently received a trombone to “tinker around with”. He loved his music and during his final days spent hours listening to and recalling the greatness of some of his favorites including Bill Evans, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie, Theloneous Monk, Charles Mingus and his cousin, local drum great Reed Vaughan. His love for music has been generously passed to his children and grandchildren.

He devoured non-fiction biographies, some of his favorites include those about President Lyndon Johnson. Gordon recognized that while Johnson was a flawed man, he could adapt his thinking and policies to address the needs of his country during turbulent times. This growth and maturity of ideas was a defining quality of Gordon.

Over the course of his life he enjoyed various church leadership positions including leading FOCAS, an interdenominational Fellowship of Christian Adult Singles in Seattle, WA from 1975 – 1981. He and Pat spent countless hours chaperoning camping and hiking adventures and witnessed the budding of several loving marriages and families from their group. In the mid-2000's he was an Elder at his church and worked with church members during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

His career in the jewelry business spanned 55 years. He worked briefly in retail, but focused most of his career on wholesale, manufacturing, merchandising and design. He loved being creative with jewelry and over his career designed thousands of beautiful pieces for thousands of beautiful people.

Gordon was predeceased by his Father Thomas Horace Clark (1907 – 1959), his Son Thomas Howard Clark (1962-1963), his Mother Joyce Vaughan Clark Porter (1915-2010), his Step Father Ellis Porter (1909 – 1995), his Brother Howard L. Clark (1941 – 2009).

Survivors include:

Grace Patricia (Pat) Clark, wife, Madisonville, LA

Stephanie Morton, daughter, Issaquah WA

Derrick Morton, son-in-law, Issaquah ,WA

Trevor Morton, grandson, Bellevue, WA

Grace Morton, granddaughter, Isssaquah, WA

William Clark, son, New York, NY

Renee Clark, daughter-in-law, New York, NY

Piersson Clark, grandson New York, NY

Isabella Clark, granddaughter, New York, NY

Sophia Clark, granddaughter, New York, NY

Luciana Clark, granddaughter, New York, NY

Adele Clark Cadard, sister, Baton Rouge, LA

Caitlin Cadard, niece, Baton Rouge, LA

Donna Spencer, sister-in-law, Bellevue, WA

John Spencer, brother-in-law, Bellevue WA

Mary Ellen Biro, step-sister, Springfield MO

Julie Biro Pistole, niece, Grosse Ile, MI

Joe Biro, nephew, Springfield, MO

Leroy Matherne, step-brother, Luling, LA

Mark Matherne, nephew, New Orleans LA

Lori Matherne, niece

Londa Connick, niece

Harry Connick Sr. nephew

Kevin Matherne, nephew, Metairie, LA

Oly Matherne, niece, Metairie, LA

Kamin Matherne, great-nephew, Metairie, LA

Services will be held at St. Timothy United Methodist Church, 355 Asbury Drive, Mandeville, LA 70471 on Thursday, September 19, 2019. Family and Friends Visitation at 1:00 pm, Memorial Service at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund set up in honor of Gordon Clark at https://www.gofundme.com/in-memory-of-gordon-clark

Ellis Marsalis Center for Music at Musicians’ Village

Located in the 9th ward, the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music (the “Center”) broadens opportunities for underserved children, youth and musicians. It provides a safe, positive environment where underserved children and youth develop musically, academically and socially. The Center also delivers strategic assistance and tools to Village musicians that can enhance their professional growth and offers opportunities for musicians throughout the city of New Orleans to perform and record. The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music deeply values its connection to the surrounding community and endeavors to be an ongoing source of information and cultural inspiration to residents of the Ninth Ward in particular, and to the broader New Orleans community as a whole.

Arrangements entrusted to the Neptune Society of New Orleans