Joseph Avatia Clark Jr.
June 4, 1942 – November 1, 2023

Joseph Avatia Clark Jr., 81, of Sweet Home passed away November 1, 2023. He was born on June 4, 1942 in Aberdeen, Washington to Eunice Marie (Cole) and Joseph Avatia Clark Sr.

Joe moved to Sweet Home when he was 3 months old and lived here most of his 81 years. He served in the US Navy from November 1960 to November 1964 and was assigned to the USS Isle Royale as a machinist and welder. He was in the Naval reserves from 1964-1966.

He worked several jobs before he was hired at Willamette Industries where he worked for 20 years. He had his own business, Clark’s Machine and Welding Company. Later, he worked for Clear Lumber, Triple T Studs, and finished his career working for his good friend, Ted Stock, at Western Cascade Industries LLC in Toledo as a Machinist, Welder, and Millwright.
 
In his younger years he played football, basketball and baseball for Sweet Home High School.  He was also on Sweet Home’s State Jr. League Championship Team in 1957. He played on Willamette Industries’ Softball team and a Basketball team until he was 40 years old. Later in life he liked watching his grandkids participating in their activities. He enjoyed watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Beaver teams, golfing with friends, fishing, camping, crab camping, playing cards with friends, having people over for dinner and walking around the aisles of Bi-Mart looking for fishing items. He was a member of the Elks for 52 years. Joe was baptized at Church of Christ 18th and Long St. and served as an Elder at Riverside Christian Church for 32 years.

Joe is survived by his wife of 51 years, Kay Clark; daughters: Kim and Rob Connell of Tigard and Wendy and Ron Groeger of Sherwood; grandchildren: Ali and Greg Allen of Tigard, Kendra and Alejandro of Beaverton, Whitney Groeger of Sherwood, and Carlton Groeger of Sherwood; great-granddaughter Josie Allen; sister-in-law Dixie Clark, and her children Blair Clark, Logan Clark and sister Nancy and her husband Larry Hoffman Sr. and their son, Larry Jr. Preceded in death by his parents Joe Sr. and Eunice Clark and brother Charlie Clark.
 
Viewing will be 10 am – 10:30 am Thursday November 9th at New Life in Christ Fellowship, 1266 44th Avenue, Sweet Home. Funeral service will follow at 11 am. Final burial with military honors will take place at Liberty Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in his name to Sweet Home Emergency Ministries at 1115 Long Street, Sweet Home, Oregon 97386. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com.