William "Bill" Clayton Clark Sr.

William “Bill” Clark was born the third of six children to Lawrence and Mildred (Ware) Clark on September 13,1942, north of Coyville KS. He was raised on the family farm where he spent his final years of life. On March 11, 1961, he married Karen Soupene in Wichita, KS. They celebrated 65 years of marriage in March…..and they still liked each other.

On October 30, 1962, Karen gave birth to their son William Clayton Clark Jr. who passed away on June 7, 1963. After Clay’s death, he and Karen moved to Oregon where Bill trained horses before going into the construction industry where he worked until 1972. During this time, Bill became father and lifetime hero to 3 daughters, Christie, Brenda and Angela. The family lived in a number of cities and states while following the construction jobs. In 1972 they moved from Austin, TX to Kansas City for a job where they remained until 2009.

In Kansas City, Bill quit the construction business and went into the mobile home transportation business. Karen became a dispatcher for Bill and other drivers. As opportunities arose, the couple bought rentals, mobile home courts and a storage lot through the years. In 1996 Bill retired from the mobile home transportation business to manage their properties. In 2009, they sold all of their Kansas City properties and moved to the family farm where he was raised. Just as his parents had, he raised cattle and despite having COPD, he was out daily working on the property, checking cattle, feeding AND annoying his wife and daughters, not to mention scaring them all half to death. He always had a joke to tell and leaves behind many friends. 

Bill is survived by his wife Karen of 65 years; of the home. He is also survived by his daughters, Christie Clark of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Brenda Clark of Fall River, Kansas and Angela Clark of Fredonia, Kansas, grandson Andrew Burkhart of Lawrence, Kansas, and sister Carole (Don) Haun of Fall River, Kansas.

Bill was predeceased by his son William Clayton Clark Jr, his parents Lawrence and Mildred (Ware) Clark, siblings Joan Buttler, Vicki Whitaker, Phillip Clark and Charles Clark. 

Visitation will be Thursday October 1, 2026, from 5-7 pm at the Wickham Family Funeral Home with Graveside Services taking place on Friday October 2, 2026, at the Fredonia City Cemetery.

Memorial remembrance can be made to the Coyville Community Center, they may be mailed or left at the funeral home.

Arrangements are under the guidance of Wickham Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 510 N. 7th Street, Fredonia, Kansas 66736.