Obituary for Jay Vern Clark
Jay Vern Clark was born on May 27, 1944 and passed away on March 16, 2023. Jay leaves behind Denise, his loving wife of 30 years, and a large blended family. He will be missed by his six children Carlos Clark (Rochelle), Candice Clark (Belinda), Travis Clark (Krista), Damon Clark (Sarah), Landon Clark (Brittanua), and Clayton Clark as well as Denise's five children Drew Christensen (Carrie), Rachelle Gronning (Jared), Melanie Sparkman (Randy), Heidi Melling (Trevor), Tyler Mortensen, a combined 30 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren with another on the way. He is also survived by three sisters (Donna, Kay, and Mary) as well as two brothers (Tom and Ron). He was preceded in death by his parents William "Don" and Beth Clark.
Jay married Charlene Murie in February 1969 and had six children. Together they raised their children and worked the small farm on the family land. They later divorced. He was always an example of hard work and doing what was required, even when it was not pleasant. In 1969 he took a factory job at Coleman until he found something better. He didn't like working in a factory but would do it day in and day out for 25 years, before coming home and attending to family and farm daily activities.
On April 10, 1992, he married Denise Ingram and later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple. For the next 31 years together they conquered life by going for rides and visiting with each other. Jay could often be found working on a project for Denise, whether she knew she needed it or not. He replaced cabinets, tile, rebuilt antique sewing machines and many other activities.
Jay was born in Cedar City, where he called home for his entire life. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many callings. Jay proudly serviced in the US Army from 1966 to 1967 then again in the Utah National Guard 222nd from 1984 until his retirement in 2004.
He loved outdoor activities of hunting, fishing, gold prospecting, looking for arrowheads and just simply exploring. Together with his brothers Tom and Ron, the trio explored all of southern Utah and even managed to branch out into other places from time to time. The brothers probably have well over a million miles of riding the roads together; and if they could even remember half the lies they told each other. Later he would spend as much time as possible with his kids and grandkids. Jay worked to create a love of the outdoors with his family and would spend many weekends with his young kids at the "Property" on the mountain.
Projects and hobbies could sometimes get out of control; more than once they would send him to the hospital. While working on the 1950 Chevy "rust bucket", the grinder got out of control and he ended up with 20 stitches in his hand. Another time, he was working on melting down concentrate for gold when he inhaled the fumes from the furnace and crucible, making him ill.
We want to thank the doctors and nurses at the Cedar City Cancer Center, Cedar Health and Rehab and Suntree Hospice for their exceptional care, kindness and support. He gave them a run for their money, often responding to; “How are you doing?” with “fair to midlin’, kinda, sorta, maybe on a good day.”
Graveside services will be held with military honors on Tuesday March 21, 2023 at at 1:00 pm at the Cedar City Cemetery. Prior to the graveside service there will be a viewing at the Sunset Canyon Ward building (2830 West Cody Drive) from 10:30 to 12:30 pm. Interment will be at the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of Heartlight Funeral Services.
Jay married Charlene Murie in February 1969 and had six children. Together they raised their children and worked the small farm on the family land. They later divorced. He was always an example of hard work and doing what was required, even when it was not pleasant. In 1969 he took a factory job at Coleman until he found something better. He didn't like working in a factory but would do it day in and day out for 25 years, before coming home and attending to family and farm daily activities.
On April 10, 1992, he married Denise Ingram and later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple. For the next 31 years together they conquered life by going for rides and visiting with each other. Jay could often be found working on a project for Denise, whether she knew she needed it or not. He replaced cabinets, tile, rebuilt antique sewing machines and many other activities.
Jay was born in Cedar City, where he called home for his entire life. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many callings. Jay proudly serviced in the US Army from 1966 to 1967 then again in the Utah National Guard 222nd from 1984 until his retirement in 2004.
He loved outdoor activities of hunting, fishing, gold prospecting, looking for arrowheads and just simply exploring. Together with his brothers Tom and Ron, the trio explored all of southern Utah and even managed to branch out into other places from time to time. The brothers probably have well over a million miles of riding the roads together; and if they could even remember half the lies they told each other. Later he would spend as much time as possible with his kids and grandkids. Jay worked to create a love of the outdoors with his family and would spend many weekends with his young kids at the "Property" on the mountain.
Projects and hobbies could sometimes get out of control; more than once they would send him to the hospital. While working on the 1950 Chevy "rust bucket", the grinder got out of control and he ended up with 20 stitches in his hand. Another time, he was working on melting down concentrate for gold when he inhaled the fumes from the furnace and crucible, making him ill.
We want to thank the doctors and nurses at the Cedar City Cancer Center, Cedar Health and Rehab and Suntree Hospice for their exceptional care, kindness and support. He gave them a run for their money, often responding to; “How are you doing?” with “fair to midlin’, kinda, sorta, maybe on a good day.”
Graveside services will be held with military honors on Tuesday March 21, 2023 at at 1:00 pm at the Cedar City Cemetery. Prior to the graveside service there will be a viewing at the Sunset Canyon Ward building (2830 West Cody Drive) from 10:30 to 12:30 pm. Interment will be at the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of Heartlight Funeral Services.