Nola Tolley

Nola married Arthur Theodore Clark about 1925 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Arthur (son of Newton Hacker Clark and Sarah Matilda Berry) was born on 31 Jan 1901 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 23 Jul 1958 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Robert Clark, age 84, of Centerville, Iowa, passed away Friday, February 15, 2013, at Centerville Nursing and Rehab in Centerville.

He was born September 7, 1928, in Hampton, Tennessee, to Arthur and Nola (Tolley) Clark.

After graduating from high school in the spring of 1946, Robert enlisted in the United States Army. During his two year span with the Army, Robert was stationed in Vienna, Austria, where he ran a hotel for both officers and transits.

He later enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Norfork, Virginia and Olathe, Kansas. Robert was a cook and ran the NCO Club at the naval airbase in Olathe. At the end of his naval career, he was in charge of a galley with the USS Gearing DD710 medical fleet. Robert was medically discharged from the Navy in 1955. He served his country honorably for nearly a decade.

Robert married Mary "Delores" Marchello on September 23, 1949, and to this union three children were born. He later married Sherry Blomgren on December 31, 1985, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Centerville.

Following his military career, Robert moved to Centerville in 1955. It was during this time period that he began working part time with the postal service. His career eventually became full time during the mid- to late 1950s. Robert was appointed as the acting Centerville postmaster in 1968. He served the Centerville Community faithfully until his retirement from the post office in December of 1989.

Robert was very active in numerous groups during his lifetime. He was an active member of the Jaycees. When he had returned from the Service in 1955, Robert and other farmers used their equipment to clean up and expand the Lelah Bradley Park in Centerville. He was also both a member and president of the Appanoose County Fair Board for several years. Robert was proud to be a member of NAPUS (National Association of Postmasters of United States). He was also a member of Mystic American Legion Post #340. Robert was proud to be a Shriner. During his time with the Shriners, he helped introduce the shriner's cars in the Pancake Day Parade in the early 1970s.

Most importantly, Robert was a devout Christian. He was an active member of the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene in Moravia, Iowa.

He enjoyed numerous hobbies and passions. Robert loved traveling, including several trips to Alaska. During his time in Alaska he often enjoyed the Fiddle Festival in Fairbanks, as well as the Yukon Quest Dog Race. He also made many trips to Tennessee to visit both family and friends. He loved catering for people and was well known for striking up friendships wherever he went. Robert was also known for being an author in which he wrote numerous books on his family history.

He is survived by his wife, Sherry Clark, of Centerville, Iowa; six children, Brad (Mary) Clark, Bruce (Cathy) Clark, Bryon (Margaret) Clark, Steve Bunch, Kevin Bunch and Michelle (Hugh) Scieszinski; fifteen grandchildren, Jenny (Jake) Bates, Seth (Megan) Clark, Michael (Molly) Clark, Megan (Colby) Law, Nathan Clark, Tasha (Terry) Schnathorst, Eric Clark, Gerald Clark, Stephan Bunch, Katie (Bryce) Oswalt, Whitney (PJ) Tedford, Susanne Scieszinski, Jacob Scieszinski, Mallory Scieszinski, and Jayden Scieszinski; eight great grandchildren, Narayan Funk-Clark, Calla and Annaliese Bates, Liam and Julia Clark, and Leah, Abi, Elayna Tedford; and a brother, Byrl (Kansas) Clark, of Hampton, Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two siblings, Mildred Delena and Arvil Clark.

Funeral services will be held at 10 AM Tuesday morning, February 19, 2013, at the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene, Moravia, Iowa, with Pastor Terry Chapman officiating.

Friends may call from 1 PM until 8 PM Monday, February 18, 2013, with family there from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Lange Funeral Home & Crematory in Centerville.

Burial will be in the Felkner Cemetery, west of Centerville, with full military honors.

Notes:

Byrl Lester Clark, 96, fought the good fight of faith and left his Earthly home and moved his forwarding address to Heaven on January 26, 2023. He was born on June 29, 1926, to the late Arthur and Nola Clark in Hampton, TN. Byrl was a proud US Navy Veteran during World War II. In 1944, he left high school at the age of 17 and voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served as a Seaman on the USS Atlanta, which was the first American ship to bomb Japanese Homelands during WWII. Byrl was retired from North American Rayon (33 years) and East Tennessee State University (10 years). He and Kansas enjoyed many years of retirement traveling with family and friends. Also, he enjoyed tending to his cattle, gardens and his Clark Family Farm, while enjoying his many beloved dogs.

He is survived by his loving wife of 6 years, Carolyn; his daughter, Linda Abel (Larry Sr, his loving son-in-law); his son, Byrl Clark, Jr and his son Jeff Clark; his grandchildren, Larry Abel, Jr (Kim), Deanna Abel Johnson, Chris Clark, Joy Abel, Kelsey Johnson, Amanda Clark, Keaton Johnson, Jessica Clark Madden, Beckett Clark, Gabriella Clark and Baylen Clark; his stepchildren; Angel Wilson (Adam), BJ Payne, Michael Payne (April) and step grandchildren Maura Trice (Tim), Eddie Trice, Gabby Trice, Raymond Wilson, Makayla Payne, Madison Payne, Alyssa Payne, Lee Payne and Taylor Smith and several special nephews, nieces and cousins and a two very special friends who were like daughters; Judy Broyles and Judy Herrell Stocton. Byrl is preceded in death by his loving wife of 68 years, Kansas Garland Clark; his brother, Robert Clark; daughter-in-law, Linda Clark; sister-in-law Ida Lee Kelly (Chuck) and brother-in-law, Bobby Garland (Tommie Sue) and a baby brother, Arvel Clark and a baby sister, Mildred Clark.

Byrl was a proud member of Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church in Elizabethton, TN. He was honored and proud to be a member of his church. One of the many highlights of his year was the honor to carry the American flag during the Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day services at his church, where he will carry one last time during his Celebration of Life Service at Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church. Receiving of family and friends will be Sunday January 29 from 5:00-7:00pm with the service following at 7:00. The Graveside services will take place at Berry Cemetery in Simerly Creek on Monday, January 30 at 11:00am. The services will be officiated by Pastor Randy Johnson and Pastor Mark Potter. Music will be provided by Joy Abel, Rob Montgomery, Teresa McKinney, Jim Matheson, Jeff Snyder and church musicians.

Pallbearers will be Larry Abel Jr, Chris Clark, BJ Payne, Adam Wilson, Michael Payne, Joel Street, Zeke Tolley Jr., Kevin Kelly and Joseph Smithdeal.

Honorary Pallbearers include Bruce Clark, Bradley Clark, Bryan Clark, Richard Kelly, Tim Kelly, Glen Gouge, Gary Gouge, Leslie McKinney, Jim Matheson, Carl Roberson, Sam Harrison, Tony Jones, Pastor Kenneth Grindstaff, Bill Henard, Myron Hyder, Stephen Harsh, Robert Ray, Sr., Valley Forge Men’s Bible Class, Valley Forge Senior’s Ministry Group and the Cattlemen’s Association.

The family would like to express special thanks to those who provided special care for the last 3 weeks of Byrl’s life which includes the Veteran’s Administration, the loving staff and administration at Ivy Hall Nursing Hall, Judy Jones Mcamis and Troy Wagner.