Billy Allen “Bill” Clark, 84, Barnard, died Thursday, June 25, 2020 at his home. He was born on March 17, 1936 at his home in Milo, KS to Allen and Margaret Clark. He attended grade school at Milo, KS and graduated from Barnard Rural High School in 1954 and from Kansas State University in 1958.
Bill was married to Marlene Margaret Kelly on September 11, 1960. This marriage was blessed with four children. Bill cherished all the time he spent with his children and grandchildren and, more recently, his great grandchildren. Pony rides and a good teasing were to be expected when you spent time with Grandpa. Starting with their 40th anniversary, Bill and Marlene took the entire family on a vacation to Colorado every five years. Bill spent much time planning and choreographing these vacations. He was the chief breakfast chef, and everyone looked forward to his biscuits, pancakes, and bacon.
He was a lifetime member of the Barnard United Methodist Church where he was baptized as an infant, confirmed, and then married. He took great pride in his grandmother’s founding membership in the church, and throughout his life he served as a youth leader, parish council member, historian, and in various other capacities.
In addition to Bill’s devotion to his family and church, he was a strong supporter of agriculture. He began his lifelong pursuit as a seedstock producer in 1951 with the purchase of a registered Hereford heifer. He began farming and ranching full-time in 1958 first operating as Clark Herefords and later in partnership with his son as Post Rock Cattle Company.
While at KSU, he was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity. He was a lifetime member of the American Hereford Association and a member of the Kansas and American Gelbvieh Association. He served two terms as a director of the AGA. In 2011, he was inducted into the American Gelbvieh Association Hall of Fame. He enjoyed watching his kids and grandkids show cattle. As a youngster, he was a member of the Salt Creek 4-H Club and later traveled to Scotland as an International Farm Youth Exchange participant. In 1983, Tavish Scott, an exchange student from Scotland, joined the family and remains in close contact to this day.
Left to celebrate his life are his wife, Marlene, of the home; daughter Feona and Ken Attaway of Hockley, TX; son Leland and Jan Clark of Barnard, KS; daughter Gelane and Tom Cavalli of Lincoln, KS; and daughter Arleta and Chris McManaman of Topeka, KS. He is also survived by his ten grandchildren, Keila (Tanner) Leake; Kelsie (Randy) Barta; Kara (Jordan) Erwin; Reed (Charli) McManaman; Kevin (Cassie) Cavalli; Meredith Clark; Melissa Attaway; Quentin Clark; Kyle Cavalli; and Kiley McManaman; 7 great grandchildren; and his siblings, Janice (Wade) Gregg; Kent (Jonette) Clark; and in-laws, Jolene and Charles Brockway; and Kenneth and Reta Fae Kelly.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two grandchildren, Jonathan Clark and Megan Clark.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., Friday, July 3, 2020 at the Barnard United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Milo Cemetery. The services will be recorded and those interested in receiving the link can request it from the Clark family. Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Thursday, July 2 at Wilson Family Funeral Home, Minneapolis. Due to COVID-19 outbreaks, the family will receive friends at the Clark Farm during these hours. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Lincoln County 4-H Council or the Kansas Junior Gelbvieh Association. Donations can be mailed to Wilson Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 166, Minneapolis, KS 67467.