Shannon Dale Clark
Former resident Capt. Shannon Dale Clark, of Livingston, Mont., died Jan. 31, 2010, after complications from cancer. He was 68.
Born Jan. 6, 1942, in Juneau, to Loyal and Hazel Clark, he was raised in Tenakee Springs, where his father taught him to hunt, fish and operate fishing vessels and tug boats from the age of 9.
He met Mary Helen Bainter in 1965, and they married on Nov. 21, 1967, at which time he became the proud father of Candace, Colleen, Richard and Constance. In the years that followed, the couple added three more children to their family, Faith, Hope and Sharron. His family brought him great joy.
He skippered tug boats for nearly 40 years in Alaska and Washington. His true love was Southeast Alaska, where he was known and respected as one of the very best tug boat skippers. He also spent time in Fairbanks from 1973 to '75 working on the Alaska Pipeline. After retiring in 1996, Shannon and Mary began spending their time in Livingston where they operated Crazy Woman Wine Preserves.
He always looked forward to sitting down with his road map and planning out their next adventure and deciding which Farmers Market they would attend to sell their jam products. He enjoyed working the markets and meeting new people. He always had a great story to tell, a smile on his face and a laugh in his voice. He affectionately became known as the "Jam Man."
He considered his greatest achievement his dedication to his Creator, Jehovah God. He was baptized on March 25, 1970, and continued to serve the rest of his days. His strong faith and belief in the Truth and the Great Resurrection sustained him and brought him great comfort.
"Shannon never missed an opportunity to share the hope of God's Kingdom to anyone he met," his family said.
He recently stated: "I'm looking forward to seeing you in the New System of Things, in a paradise earth, after the Resurrection."
He was preceded in death by his father and mother.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Clark, of Livingston; children, Candace Sheeran, of Des Moines, Iowa, Colleen Douglas, of Kenai, Richard Douglas, of Kasilof, Constance Douglas, of Craig, Faith Lingerfeldt, of York, S.C., Hope Thompson, of Soldotna, and Sharron Heath, of Lake Wylie, S.C.; sister, Bonnie Duncan, of Soldotna; brother, Dan Clark, of Oceanview, Hawaii; and many loved and cherished nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His family was by his side. A memorial service was held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, in Livingston, with a gathering of family and friends afterward.