Clark

Tommy Clark was born in Pendleton, Oregon, on October 7, 1953, to Lee Roy Clark and Clara Mae Cunha.

He attended elementary and junior high in Pendleton and graduated from Pendleton High School in 1972. He attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, graduating in 1976, with a degree in physical education/health with an emphasis in teaching. While there, he played both football and baseball for the legendary Ad Rutschman on full scholarship. After graduation, with a short time in Portland, he returned to Pendleton and settled down to spend the rest of his time in a town that he loved.

While growing up and into adulthood, he was very active in all sports. As his friends and teammates have shared, Tommy, the “Claw,” was a gifted athlete with incredible speed and strength. He was not particularly tall or big in stature but he could break games open with touchdowns of 50, 60, and 70 yards or more. He also punted and kicked PATs as well for the “Pendleton Bucks” under Don Requa. He could do it all on a football field.

He was also an unbelievable pitcher. He had a tremendous fastball with great movement as well. His baseball prowess began in Pendleton Little League with coach and mentor Kenny Melton. Being on Kenny Melton’s teams was the beginning of a long love for the game. He was on both the Shrine team in football and state-metro team in baseball.

In addition, he played basketball for the Pendleton Bucks and after graduating, attending college, and returning to Pendleton, he played slow-pitch softball with his buddies and participated in any other sport he could find. He also coached and mentored many future athletes of this community. He loved working with kids, selflessly putting in hours in teaching them how to be better players and, more importantly, show good sportsmanship.

He not only was a great athlete but also a gifted singer, instrumentalist and actor. He could pick up a guitar or sit down at a piano and play with no instruction or lessons, strike up a song with his buddies, or show his acting prowess on stage with no prior experience.

For all of the activities that he was involved in throughout his life, his family was the most important. He dearly loved his family but especially his nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. They were the closest to his heart. And they dearly loved their “Uncle Tom.” There was a special connection between them. He was always there for them and supported them in all their endeavors. He kept up with their lives, always wanting to know what was happening and how they were doing. One of the memories that they particularly recall is when they would come to visit and he would get out his guitar and play for them.

Tom is survived by his two sisters, Kathy (Russ) Demianew of Pendleton and Juanita Makin in the valley area; nephews Tom (Karen) Demianew and Christopher (Emma Lee) Demianew, both of Pendleton, Joe (Kelsie) Demianew of Keizer, Oregon, and Doug Makin of Moses Lake, Washington; nieces Jeanette (John) Abreu of Lacey, Washington, Kelli Demianew of Salem, Oregon, and Brandy Clark of Athena, Oregon; great-nephews Matthew and Andrew Demianew of Pendleton and Samuel Demianew of Keizer, Oregon; and great-nieces Adrianne Demianew of Pendleton, RyLee and Katelyn Demianew, both of Pendleton, and Avery Demianew of Keizer, Oregon.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lee Roy Clark, mother Clara (Cunha) Clark, and brothers Richard and Daryl Clark.

Funeral services will be a viewing time at Burns Mortuary in Pendleton on August 30, 2018, from 1-5 p.m., with graveside services at Olney Cemetery on August 31, 2018, at 10 a.m.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Buckaroo Boosters in care of Burns Mortuary, P.O. Box 489, Pendleton, OR 97801.

Burns Mortuary of Pendleton is in charge of the arrangements.