Toppy Clark was well known by many who cherished his friendship, business interests and love of the automobile. Sadly, Toppy left this world February 16 and the following is to serve as a tribute to a truly wonderful man:
He was born on August 15, 1911 to Audley and Cora Cartmill Clark in Rock Creek Township, Kansas on the way to their homestead in Elk City, Oklahoma. 'Toppy' was the second of eight children, brothers Hap, Bud, Don, and sisters Hazel, Alma, Ruby and Marjorie. He earned his nickname "Toppy" because he could spin the 'top' better than anyone.
Toppy lived through some of the major events of 1920's and 1930's, from the sinking of the Titanic Ship, the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and the fall of the 1929 Stock Market Crash, the end of Prohibition, World War I and World War II, the Orphan Trains from New York through Rich Hill, and the production of the automobile industry. And from those and many other known and unknown events, he developed his passion for automobiles and collected over 80 cars in his lifetime.
He graduated from Butler High School, in 1931, and in 1933 attended Bowen Pharmacy School in Brunswick, Missouri becoming a registered pharmacist in 1937. Toppy was in business for over 37 years in Rich Hill with his wife Irene, the Clark Pharmacy and he was co-owner of the Hume Drug Store with Ted and Edith Koontz, his long time friends of Hume, Missouri.
Toppy married Irene Mae Jamett in 1945, and to this union one son was born, Terry Clark. Toppy and Irene celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1995.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, brothers Hap, Bud, Don and sisters Hazel Wagner, Alma Allen, and Ruby Rodeberg. He is survived by his son, Terry J Clark and wife Frieda of Rich Hill, Missouri. He also leaves three grandchildren, Maria and husband Randal Griffiths of Rich Hill, Missouri, Donald and wife Stacie Hudson of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and Stephanie and husband Steve Lyon of Nevada, Missouri, and great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
He is also is survived by his sister Marjorie Askew and her husband Glen of Eagle Rock, Missouri, Sisters in-law Letha Clark of Butler, Missouri, Louise Jamett of Joplin, Missouri, Jo Ann Bennett and husband Charles "Chuck" Bennett of Fort Meyers, Florida, and brother in-law Ray Vidal of Huntington Beach, California, and special cousins Shirley Vansandt and husband LeRoy of Smithville, Missouri, and Raymond Lafever of Rich Hill and a host of nieces and nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held Monday, February 20, 2012 at noon at the Carbon Center Cemetery under the direction of the Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home, Osceola, MO.
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The following is a link regarding the sale of his beloved auto collection http://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com/auction_images/36/documents/Forrest%20Toppy%20Clark%20Auction%20Story.pdf
Another link to a story by the Nevada Daily Mail http://www.nevadadailymail.com/story/1472114.html
A video of a proud 'barn find' http://auctions.org/barn-find-the-forrest-toppy-clark-collector-car-auction/6539/
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