James W. Clark, 62, passed away May 4, 2007 at The Sweetlife at Rosehill Skilled Nursing Facility. Funeral services will be Saturday, June 16, at St. Peters Cathedral, 431 N. 15th St., Kansas City, KS, at 10:30 AM. A reception will follow the mass in the Church Hall. Private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Crossroads Hospice, 9237 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO, 64114, or Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, 5445 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66104, Where Jim and Rita found their pet, Gemini Boots. Jim was born to Charles and Ellen (Haffey) Clark on January 4, 1945. As a lifelong resident of Kansas City, KS, he attended St. Peter's grade school and Bishop Ward High School, where he graduated in 1963. He went on to Donnelly College, and graduated from The University of Kansas in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts- Zoology. He then attended Medical School at KUMC for one year. Jim served in the U.S. Navy as a Celestial Navigation Instructor, and was honorably discharged in 1972 as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. After Discharge from the Navy, Jim worked 12 years at the local government level, serving as an administrative assistant to Jack Reardon from 1994-2005. Jim also worked for the I.R.S. as a Tax Examiner, where he retired due to his terminal illness. Jim leaves his wife of 29 years, Rita (Callaghan) and their pet, Gemini. Celebrating their 29th Anniversary on February 25. He is also survived by his brother Thomas and wife Margaret, his sister, Mary Elaine and husband Ed Lavery, In-Laws, Mary Ellen, Jim Ryan and Betty Sewall, and 19 nieces and nephews. (Arr: Heartland Cremation and Burial Society, 816-313-1677).
Published in the Kansas City Star on 6/13/2007.