Patrick Clifton Clark

Patrick Clifton Clark passed peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, January 25 at age 73.

Pat was born at the Nix Hospital to Fred and Lois Clark and he grew up on the North Side of San Antonio with his older brother Jeff. He graduated from Robert E Lee High in 1964 and went to A&M University for one year. While at A&M he joined the Aggie Corps that he loved, but decided that college was not for him and decided to attend apprentice school to become a union journeyman electrician. When he received his journeyman electrician license, he purchased a travel trailer and van and traveled the western U.S. working as an electrician. Pat realized there was no place like Texas and was forever more a true Texan returning to San Antonio. Pat worked for several contractors in San Antonio eventually joining Fred Clark Electric, his father’s company as an electrician, warehouse mgr and estimator until Fred Clark retired in 1985.

Pat met the love of his life Lisa while working as an electrician in downtown San Antonio in 1974. Their first date was for lunch on the Riverwalk at Kangaroo Court. The rest is history and they would have celebrated their 41st anniversary on February 27th this year.

Pat opened his own business, Convention Electrical Specialists subcontracting to decorators to provide electric to Trade Shows and Conventions at the San Antonio Convention Center . A source of pride and enjoyment were the annual Dog Show and Band and Music Directors Convention. He later sold Convention Electrical.

Pat received a blood transfusion after an accident in the 70’s that gave him a silent illness, hepatitis C. It was not until his health was in grave danger that he knew and he received a liver transplant as a result in 1997.

The recovery with the Liver transplant allowed him to invest in an Apartment Community and Pat continued with that business until his retirement.

Pat and Lisa fulfilled a lifelong dream of living in the country in 2006. They moved to DeWitt County near Yorktown to a rural community called Gruenau. They have a hay farm there and enjoy fresh air, green grass and country life. They kept their small starter home in San Antonio as a place to stay while they attended to medical appointments, shopping and elder care.

Pat was very intelligent and a jolly guy with many hobbies and interests over his life. He loved to research and learn about each one and strike up conversations about them. Pat loved comedy and especially Jackie Gleason and his “Away We Go” and “How Sweet It Is” routine.

Pat learned to enjoy horse racing with his father Fred, every Thursday the two would buy a catfish sandwich at Cracker Barrel and head to the Retama racetrack to watch the simulcast from all over the U.S. Fred taught Pat how to “Tackish”, a process to evaluate horses in the post parade and read the stats in the program. Pat would start off with the $20 Fred insisted on providing and most often Pat was able to give Fred back his $20 and come home with money in his pocket. This really sharpened his skills as a handicapper. The pair defined a good day as one they paid for their day of entertainment including snacks and programs. This interest continued and Pat and Lisa would watch on TV and make their picks, sometimes asking a track friend in San Antonio to place wagers for them on the Derby or the Belmont. Pat loved watching races from the New York Belmont track each week. He had a 50th birthday celebration at the track, it was a fun time, he purchased $2 win tickets for every horse in a particular race, each guest had one of the runners and there was of course, only one winner. Truly one of his favorite memories. Favorite movies: Let It Ride and SeaBiscuit.

Pat and Lisa loved dogs. Their first pet was a stray Brittany named Lady, she would howl a cheer for the Cowboys on command and entertain at the ARCS remote control airfield. After Lady, there were other Brittany Spaniels, Katie, Gracie and now Aimie.

Pat loved the coast and lakes, Lisa and he enjoyed owning and fishing out of 4 different boats and kayaks over the years. Night time fishing under air craft landing lights with Lisa and his father- in-law Herb were memorable times.

Building and flying remote control airplanes was something Pat enjoyed, he was excellent at crafting planes out of balsa kits. He was not satisfied unless each model was as close to perfect as possible.

Pat enjoyed wood working and built Lisa a beautifully finished cherry wood Morris chair for Christmas one year. He refinished many rifle gun stocks over the years, crazy as it may sound the only project for himself, a work bench.

Scuba diving in the Cayman Islands while Lisa snorkeled above occurred for several years. Group trips with friends and Ken usually happened during Pirate Week where everyone dressed in pirate attire at the downtown parade.

Pat was a car enthusiast and he enjoyed working on cars with his friend Mac Morris. His best was a 1964 Malibu that he completely re-did, much to Lisa’s surprise or not, the mild mannered blue convertible purchased became a roaring bright red hot rod she could not drive. Pat sold the Malibu mostly because the part he liked most was working on it, he enjoyed mechanic work.

Pat has also delved into making his own Root Beer and in the corner of his shop is an entire set up.

He tried taking the guitar up again in his retirement, he took lessons when he was a teen. Lisa wished he stuck with it , but he said he could play the notes, learn the song, but he was lousy at making music. He only enjoyed playing when he did not have an audience. Anyone need a guitar? See Lisa.

Pat has been a gun enthusiast since he was a kid and his Dad gave him his first 22 rifle and a box of shells at their country place in Marion, TX. He would spend hours shooting at the stock tank. Pat built a range at his farm with varying targets that would jump and spin and he mostly enjoyed his favorite caliber, 22 long rifle. Plinking he would call it and many a can would bite the dust.

Pat and Lisa have loved fireworks for years. Every New Year there is a wide variety of rockets, cakes, fountains and shells . Pat loved his scaled down cannon. He would sneak off a shot in the neighborhood in San Antonio and hide inside. Did we hear an explosion? No sir. The past two years he educated himself on the making of fireworks, dangerous yes, but he was very careful making his own black powder and crafting rockets. He wore a hat with the formula for black powder 75:15:10 embroidered on it.

Pat is survived by Lisa, his wife and his dog Aimie, brother Jeff and wife Sharon, nieces Cathy Eason and husband Ben, Kimberly McMahon and husband Troy, brother-in-law Kenneth Behrendt and wife Liz.

Pat Clark began his day opening up his laptop and playing and singing along to Don William’s song, “Lord I Hope This Day is Good”.

The long term use of rejection medications for his transplant as well as Hepatitis took a toll on his overall health and he had to overcome many health concerns the last years of his life. Pat had become weary, in pain, miserable and ready to go home to Jesus, his savior, as he was unable to enjoy a quality life, he missed the joy of pursuing his interests and hobbies and riding around the farm. His family, friends and I will miss him very much. I am happy that his torment is over he is free from a lack of mobility that kept him in a recliner with a laptop and tv. He made the most of his situation by researching fireworks and other topics. He loved to learn.

My love to all of you who have supported Pat and I with encouragement and prayer throughout the hard times and celebrated and had fun with us over the good years.

He is probably with Fred holding an Exacta Box winning ticket for horses named Away We Go and Heaven Bound.

My love and thanks to all of you, Lisa

A celebration of life will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in San Antonio with Pastor Elder McCants, 3118 N. New Braunfels Street, 210-532-1300. Memorial service is Saturday, February 11 at 11am.

Memorials are the donor’s choice and flowers can be sent directly to the church.

You are invited to sign the online guest book at www.masseyfh.com

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