Jackson Clark

Jackson Clark, 81, of Tacoma, WA., passed into the loving arms of his savior on March 7, 2023. His cause of death was Cardiac Arrest from injuries caused by an Aorta aneurysm.

Jackson was born May 30th1941 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. At age 4 his family moved from Boston to California where he resided, went to school and when old enough, he joined the U.S. Army on the buddy system with his childhood friends, Darcy Hardman and Larry Elgershma. Jack was the only one of the “3 amigos” that reenlisdted and went on to serve 20 years in the U.S. Army, He retired on July 1st 1979 as Master Sargent E/8.

Some of the medals Jack received were the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, W/60 Dev, Army Commendation Medal. 2 Oak Leaf Cluster Medals, 2 Bronze Star Medals, 6 Good conduct Medals, 4 Overseas Service Bars, Vietnameese Cress of Gallantry with Palm Medals and 1 Sharpshooters Qualification Medal M-16. Thank you for your service Master Sargent Jackson Clark.

After retirement he opened his little Outboard Motor business called Outboards R Us, where he enjoyed buying, selling, trading and fixing outboard motors. In that process he met hundreds and hundreds of people and some of them would become his sole friends for life. Harry Carter, Gordy Esborg, Lowell Paddock, Alonia Cooke, Norm Keppler, Ernie Williamson and his special friend, Chris Bernard of Missoula, Montana, his special neighbors, Otto and Amy Portman and Yi Sobie and her son Dave Sobie.

The ladies at the service counter at Albertsons where Jack bought his lotto tickets everyday for the last 20 years became friends also, especially “Daisy”.

Then there was the Gerties crowd where Jack worked he after he was discharged from the Army. Jack later worked and managed several restraunts in Pierce County, including Angelo’s on Pacific Ave, and the one in Lakewood. He also worked at Gerties, and the Pegasus Bar and Grill.

Jackson was preceded in death by his mother, Marilyn Trulle Lewis Clark, his father, Kenneth Howard Clark, his sister, Patricia Curtis and brother-in-law, Leo Curtis.

Jack is survived by his wife, Gal Lynn (nee VanNess} Clark, of the home, his brothers Barry (Donna) Clark and Kenneth (Dorthy} Clark, both from California. He also is survived by 2 sons, David Clark from Castle Rock, WA., and Daniel (Heather) Clark of Puyallup, WA., 3 stepsons, Chad Detert from Snow Lake, Mississippi, Richard Detert from Seattle, Wa., and Reuben Detert (Michelle) from Tacoma, WA. Also survived are 2 daughters, Krista Yi, of Kent, WA., and Maddison Attaberry Philps (Ron) from Spanaway, WA. Jack also leaves behind 14 Grandchildren and 9 Great Grandchildren.

Graveside Services will be held in Ronan, Montana at the Ronan Cemetery on March 17, 2023, at 2 p.m.