Tommy Ray Clark, 71
Tommy Ray Clark 1943 – 2014
Tommy Ray Clark, died November 13, 2014 at home after a long illness. Born July 20, 1941, he was the son of the late Clarance and Eileen Clark of Shattuck, Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Judy of Campbellsville, daughter and son-in-law Ruthe and Todd Marsh of Linwood, North Carolina, son and daughter –in-law Andrew and Jennifer Clark, of Campbellsville, Kentucky, and son Franklin Clark of Cadiz, Kentucky. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Gabriel and Cailet Clark of Campbellsville and Elizabeth Marsh of Linwood, North Carolina, his sister and brother-in-law Carolyn and Olen Bonner of Bastrop, Texas, and many relatives and friends.
Tommy professed faith in Christ at age 12 and was a member of Campbellsville Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for many years. He held the Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Art from Southwestern State College, Weatherford, Oklahoma, the Master of Arts in Fine Arts from Northwestern State University of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and the Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art from Vermont College of Montpelier, Vermont. Professor Emeritus of Campbellsville University, he taught art for 38 years.
Tommy’s faith in God and his family were always his priorities, and Judy used to say that Tommy had two loves: art and her, and she wasn’t always sure whether she was first or not. He loved taking his children and grandchildren to the zoo, camping with Boy Scouts, planning and sculpting original birthday cakes for his children’s birthdays, coming up with off the wall Halloween costumes, and sitting with a grandchild in his lap and drawing “pictures made to order”.
He spent hours inside and outside of the classroom working with students, sharing his talent and knowledge with them. He regularly exhibited in art exhibits, was a juried member of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, and the Kentucky Crafts Marketing Program.
His preferred medium was clay, creating both wheel and hand sculpted works. He also worked in watercolor, and occasionally created one-of-a-kind special occasion cards for individuals which featured a caricature of the honored recipient. He painted a mural on a wall at Taylor County Rescue Squad, helped plan the layout for the “Journey to Easter” pageant at Campbellsville Baptist Church, created personalized mugs for many new faculty and employees at Campbellsville College, and many other works.
This quotation really describes Tommy: “A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.” Louis Nizer
There will be a memorial service to honor the life of Mr. Clark at 2:00 PM on Monday, November 24, 2014 at the L.R. Petty Funeral Home and Cremation Service chapel. Dr. Robert L. Doty, Dr. Gordon Weddle, and Dr. Robert Street will be officiating. Dr. Wesley Paul will provide songs.
The family will receive visitors at the funeral home on Sunday, November 23, from 5:00-8:00 PM, and on Monday, November 24, from 1:00 PM until time for the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials take the form of donations to the Art Department at Campbellsville University, and can be made at the funeral home.
