Obituary of George Amos Clark

February 10, 1947 - Goderich, Ontario

November 27, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

George Amos Clark died on Monday, November 27, 2023, surrounded by his family.

George was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Margaret Buckley. He is survived by his dog Sadie, son William Clark and his wife Stephanie Moody (Veronica and Jack), his daughters Beth Clark and her partner Chris Kennedy (Sloan and Bo), Tracy Clark (Nina and Christina), Kim Clark (Larissa) and his siblings Mary, Marg (Jim), Carolyn and Phil (Joan).

George was born on February 10, 1947, in Goderich, Ontario. He spent his childhood and formative years helping run the family dairy farm. He attended elementary and high school in Goderich where he excelled in academics, as well as athletics (football, basketball, track and field), achieving the top male athlete of the year in his final year. He loved music and was a snare drummer in the Goderich Highland pipe band with his brother, Phil, playing the bagpipes. He attended the University of Waterloo where he received an undergrad in Psychology and spent weekends touring as the drummer in a band, the WinJammers, and their side act Miss Marguerite. His first child, Kim, was born to his first wife in 1969 while he attended a Diana Ross and the Supremes concert. Shortly after, he packed up his family and moved to Creighton, Saskatchewan to enjoy the nice weather and beautiful landscape surrounding the mine site.

In Creighton, he began working for the Government of Saskatchewan and welcomed his second child, Tracy into the world in 1971. The family moved back to Ottawa where George attended the University of Ottawa, achieving his master’s in social work. With a degree in hand, it was time to head back to northern Saskatchewan where he started working in Corrections in La Ronge, Saskatchewan. There he met his second wife, Margaret, (likely at “The Zoo”), and tricked her into buying a cabin on a remote island. Little did she know he had successfully signed her up for a 40-year construction project (including letting Margaret paint the new outhouse to celebrate their honeymoon). That cabin in La Ronge was host to endless good times hanging out with Albert Bantle, Hugh Parsons, Jim and Donna Scarfe, Rod and Betty Spooner, Carol and Rick Spooner, Bill and Marlette McLaughlin, and Pat Davis and Betsy O’Brien.

After marrying Margaret at the La Ronge courthouse during the recess of a murder trial, he welcomed his third and fourth children, William and Beth. The family moved to Prince Albert when the children were young, but he found a way to spend every summer on the island in La Ronge. The family moved to Regina in 1995, where George finished out his 35-year career with the Saskatchewan Government. In his retirement, he took up odd jobs collecting samples from racehorses (as George said, “catching horse piss”), driving a steam truck, getting his semi driver's license, driving the boat taxi for the Hunter Bay fishing lodge, and enjoying time with his grandchildren and beloved dog Sadie.

The last few years of George’s life were marred by the onset of dementia and the stress of caring for his wife as she declined with Pulmonary Fibrosis. Yet, he never lost the twinkle in his eye or his love of spending time with the wonderful friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances he made throughout the years. He was always more than happy to help out with a project, teach, and spread his vast knowledge of mechanics and construction, and enjoy a delicious rum and coke or if it was the holidays, rum, and eggnog.

If George had an autobiography, it would be a picture-filled instruction manual. He developed all his best relationships by helping, doing, and creating with those he loved. A celebration of life will be held with a few close friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, take a trip up to Northern Saskatchewan, grab a case of beer, and enjoy a day out in the boat. It will be just tickety-boo.