Lawrence "Pinky" Eldon Clark

Lawrence Eldon "Pinky" Clark, 86, passed away Wednesday, September 7 at his home in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Visitation will be 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Friday, September 9, 2011 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Vigil will be held at 7:00 PM, Friday, September 9, 2011 at St. Edward Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 10, 2011 at St. Edward Catholic Church, 201 North Guadalupe Street with Father Cyprian Uline, OFM, Conv. officiating. A private interment will be at Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Eldon was born August 28, 1925 in Butler County, Oklahoma to Joseph and Katherine (Hanavan) Clark. Eldon grew up on a small farm operated by his parents. He was a standout basketball player at Arapaho High School in Arapaho, Oklahoma. In 1943, he met his future wife, Irene Rose (Klein) Clark, also at Arapaho High School. Eldon and Irene were married on May 28, 1947. They had just celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in May of this year. Eldon's first job was at Strange-Jones Hardware store in Clinton, Oklahoma. He moved his family to Carlsbad in 1949 to join the family feed store business. A short time later he went to work for International Minerals & Chemical Corporation (IMCC). He was employed there from 1951 until 1962, when he lost his job during the labor strike of that year. During those years, he was affectionately labeled "Pinky" by his friends and co-workers. His nickname stuck, and many of his friends knew him only by that name. Eldon then went to work at AMAX Potash mine from 1962-64. In 1964, he began working with his brothers-in-law at Klein's Dairy. During those years, he and his wife, Irene, operated a drive-through dairy store at the corner of Texas and 2nd street in Carlsbad. He developed milk routes in the community and worked to establish Klein's milk in area grocery stores. After the family operation was sold, Eldon worked for Price's Dairy as a retail milk distributor through 1969. He finished his professional career working at National Potash and as a "hoistman" at Kerr McGee Potash before retiring in 1987. After retiring, Eldon became an avid bowler and participated in several bowling leagues over the years; his trophy collection was a source of satisfaction and pride for him. He also competed and won many events representing Carlsbad during Senior Olympics competition. Eldon is survived by his wife, Irene Rose (Klein) Clark of the family home in Carlsbad; son, Lawrence (Larry) Eldon Clark, Jr and wife, Marcia, of Alamogordo; daughters: Phyllis Adams and late husband, Joe of Artesia, Susan Crowley and husband, Terry, of Amarillo, TX, Pam Haley and husband, Mike, of Round Rock, TX, Emily Reay and husband, Scott, of Peoria, AZ. Eldon is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be his grandsons Jason Haley and Kevin Haley of Round Rock, TX; Greg Crowley of Amarillo, TX; and his grandsons-in-law Michael DeBusk of Noble, OK; Kenneth Shepherd of Amarillo, TX and Wesley Neel of Artesia, NM. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.