Larry Russell Clark

Larry’s Life Story

Larry Russell Clark, 79, of Fredonia, Kansas passed away February 11, 2026, at Via Christi Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas 

Larry was born on January 25, 1947, in Toronto, Kansas, the second of six siblings. His parents were Russell Warren Clark and Goldie (Dollie) Irene Green Clark Kester. Times became difficult after he lost his dad to lymphoid cancer at the age of 41 in 1962.

Trying to find his path in life, Larry joined the Navy in January 1964 and served until October 1967. He was a Brown Water sailor and completed two tours in Vietnam before receiving an honorable discharge. Unfortunately, he also returned home with PTSD.

In the summer of 1968, he met Eileen Hiebert and took her to her senior prom. She attended beauty college while Larry worked for the City of Wichita. They were married on January 9, 1971, and made their home in Toronto, Kansas. After living in town for a short time, they moved to the country at 351 10th Road, where they had a house and 30 acres.

To this union were born two sons: Ty Warren Clark, born September 18, 1973, and Clay Russell Clark, born February 7, 1977.

Larry lived an active life raising Quarter Horses and owned a stud named Sir Jet Max. He also had a pair of Haflingers named Bell and Blondie. He built a wagon for them to pull and received help from an Amish man to get them properly trained. They had lots of fun until Larry’s shoulders worsened and he could no longer lift the harness.

In the early 1970s, Larry worked as a rodeo clown. One time he even had to dress up like a woman — and he was such a cutie! The crew drove what they called the “Bull Ford,” which dipped up and down and all around, making for an exciting ride. He helped work cattle with friends and enjoyed working the soil with his farmer friend, Bob Fulhage.

In the early 1980s, he drove a school bus for the Eureka School District. To keep the kids quieter, he installed a radio on the bus. He would pick up children in the country, drop off those attending Toronto school, and then take the older students on to Eureka.

Larry was active in the Toronto Saddle Club and served as an announcer, blessed with the gift of gab. He traveled twice to the Cheyenne Sioux Reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, to help gather horses.

Later, he became involved in mud runs. He owned a 1974 Chevy with a 454-engine named Boss Hogg. Eileen drove it and won the Powder Puff Trophy. Larry also announced several of those events, including one at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium and others in larger towns.

In his younger years, Larry even learned to crochet. When their furniture needed covering, he and Eileen crocheted “Granny Square” covers together. He later mastered the Indian Paintbrush design and made several gifts, including one for his grandson, Colt. He would take his basket of yarn to Newett’s Rifle in town, drink a beer, and visit with the guys.

Larry drove a semi-truck for Ruan Transport and later worked as a dispatcher in Fredonia, Kansas. He owned and operated a large dump truck hauling rock to reinforce the face of the John Redmond Reservoir. He also worked at the Wolf Creek Nuclear Plant in Burlington, Kansas, as a millwright installing turbines for General Electric.

In 1989, he went to work for Schieber Truck Line hauling hazardous waste until retiring at age 65. During his last year there, he worked in El Dorado, Kansas, melting sulfur — dangerous work. The sulfur was loaded, melted down, and transferred into railcars.

Later, he helped manage a ranch for Mike Mann, raising Hereford cattle along with some of his own.

Larry was a lifetime member of the American Legion and VFW Post 3018. He was also a member and Past Master of the Kansas Free Masons, Woodson Lodge No. 121.

Larry and Eileen enjoyed traveling. In their younger years, she often rode with him in the semi. Shortly after Clay was born, they traveled to Colorado in a 1971 Pontiac Bonneville while the boys stayed with Grandma Dollie. They stopped in Lamar, Colorado, to see Jim and Darlene Hamilton. From there, they traveled over La Veta Pass toward Durango, drove the Million Dollar Highway, followed the La Plata River, and stayed in Hesperus. They also visited Four Corners, Grand Junction, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

When Dave’s Acres was going strong just up the road, they would go dancing there. It was a fun place to see friends and socialize. They saw Hank Thompson and Little Jimmy Dickens perform and also enjoyed rodeo dances in Fredonia.

In 1990, they took a trip with the boys and friends to Lake Texoma in Oklahoma. They hired a guide and had a wonderful fishing trip for stripers, catching many fish. Clay caught the biggest one, which they had mounted as a keepsake.

In 1997, when Larry turned 50, they traveled to North Carolina so he could reunite with his Vietnam friend, Jo I. Crowe. They also visited Grandfather Mountain and researched the Scottish Clark heritage in Tulsa, Oklahoma; the Kansas City area; and McPherson, Kansas, meeting many good people along the way.

They enjoyed three trips to Mexico, which Larry won at company parties. Their favorite stay was at the Iberostar, where they were treated like royalty.

In 2001, after 30 years of marriage, they went to Las Vegas to see the sights and try their luck. The Hilton had a Star Trek attraction, and Larry loved the space shuttle simulator — he rode it twice! It made Eileen sick, so she stayed at the bar while he enjoyed his second ride.

In 2005, Larry and Eileen rode their motorcycle along with Ty and Clay to the Natchez Trace, totaling over 2,000 miles. They stopped in Benton, Kentucky, to visit her brother Richard and his family.

In 2003, Larry rode through Colorado with Ralph Barclay and Bill Cox. In 2004, Larry, Ty, Clay, and Scotty Shaw traveled to Sturgis, South Dakota, visiting Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse, and Deadwood.

In 2007, Larry, Ty, Clay, and Don traveled to San Diego, California. The boys surprised Larry with his plane ticket. They toured many sights, including the USS Midway, where Larry had served in 1964 and 1965. It is now a museum. He said it was nothing like it had been when he was stationed there, and the boys enjoyed hearing his stories. 

Celebration Of Life Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday February 16, 2026, at Wickham Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service 510 North 7th Fredonia, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. until service time at the funeral home. 

Intermit will take place immediately following the service at Toronto Cemetery.

 Memorial remembrances are suggested to the Fredonia Flag Fund and may be left or mailed to the funeral home. 

As we remember these moments, they remain highlights of our lives.

Live and love.