Eugene Harlan Clark, 84, of Mt. Vernon died 3 a.m. March 24, 2005, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis.

He was owner/operator of Clark's Jewelers in Mt. Vernon. He started the business in 1957 on North Ninth Street, next to the Granada Theater, and later moved it to its present location at 100 S. Ninth St.

Mr. Clark was born May 19, 1920, in Jefferson County to Alva Morton and Gracie (Marteeny) Clark.

He first married Ruth (Ragland) Clark Nov. 20, 1941, in Mattoon; she died Nov. 3, 1989.

He later married Beverly (Britton) Dousman Clark June 6, 1996, in Mt. Vernon; she survives.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. The Rev. Bill Causer will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon.

Mr. Clark is survived by his wife, Beverly Clark of Mt. Vernon; sons Bill Clark and wife Sue of Decatur and Jim Clark and wife Kat of Glen Ellyn; a stepson, Mike Jackson and wife Krista of Dix; a stepdaughter, Amy Dousman Lanzotti and husband Mark of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; 13 grandchildren; threegreat-grandchildren; and a twin sister, Eleanor Wielt of Kansas City, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; a brother, Glen; and a brother-in-law, Bud Wielt.

Mr. Clark was a member of the American Gem Society and Gemological Institute of America. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force and served during World War II. He will be greatly missed by his constant companion and watchdog, Phoebe.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospice and will be accepted at the funeral home or may be mailed to Hughey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 721, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Hughey Funeral Home, where you may call 242-3348 for further information.

Source: Register-News, Mt Vernon IL
Date: March 26, 2005
Submitted by: Robert W. Loman