Daniel Clark

Daniel Dale Clark, 60, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Blue Springs, MO, Friday evening, June 8, 2012. Daniel was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on March 1, 1952, the son of Dale J. and Edna Marie Kerns Clark. Daniel and Lucinda Gray were united in marriage on June 27, 1981, and would have celebrated 31 years of marriage. On, April 18, 1995, through the gift of adoption, they welcomed M’Lyn Danielle Clark into their family and home. Daniel lived in St. Joseph, Missouri, most of his growing up years. He attended Lake Contrary Elementary School and graduated in 1970 from Benton High School. Shortly after graduation he enlisted in the United States Army and did a tour of duty in Vietnam serving as a Cryptologist. Upon his Honorable Discharge, he returned to St. Joseph and began working at Carnation Pet Food and attending college at night. He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Missouri Western State University in 1978. He then took management positions in Lawrence, Kansas and Red Oak, Iowa. In 1980, he made a decision to move to the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area and was a manager for a galvanizing steel company. After he and Lucinda were married and began their married life in Texas he started his insurance/financial services career from which he retired in March 2012 after more than 20 years in the business. He worked for Reliable Life Insurance Company, Capitol County Mutual Fire Company, and Western Southern. September 1993 he was conferred as a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow, LUTCF. Currently he was employed with the Internal Revenue Service as a tax examiner. At a young age, Dan made the decision to serve Christ and accepted him as his Lord and Savior. Dan was a member of and served on the deacon board and Sunday School teacher at Hurst Assembly of God in Hurst, TX, and was currently a member of First Assembly of God of Independence, in Independence, MO, where he served on the Missions Board, as sound technician, and a former church choir member. He was first of all a Christian, a family man, devoted and caring. Dan was a teacher, a helper, who was sought out by many for guidance and help. He loved studying and learning about the financial world, playing the guitar, an avid board game and card player, and a fine audio and video technician. Dan was a proud “Blue Springs High School Golden Regiment Marching Band” dad. His friendliness and quick sense of humor endeared him to those he came in contact with. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Survivors include his wife Lucinda and daughter M’Lyn of the home in Blue Springs, two sisters Sondra Gray of Savannah, Missouri, and Estella Gitthens and husband Ron, of Cameron, Missouri, his mother-in-law, Jean Gray of Mercer, MO, and a host of other family and friends. Dan was preceded in death by his parents Dale J. Clark and Edna Marie Kerns Clark.