Matthew Patrick “Pat” Clarke, 87, of Farmersville, died on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, at Heritage Health: Therapy and Senior Care in Litchfield.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Jan. 19, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Farmersville. Funeral services will follow, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the church. Burial will be held at St. Martin’s Catholic Cemetery in Farmersville. Hough Funeral Home in Farmersville is assisting the family.
Mr. Clarke was born on March 22, 1933, in Farmersville, to Matthew Patrick and Lula (Rowland) Clarke. He married Margaret Cosgriff on Oct. 19, 1957, in Jacksonville, and she survives.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He went on to work for Freeman Coal Company for over 30 years before he retired. He was a member of the UMWA.
Mr. Clarke served as a board member for the village of Farmersville for 27 years and was a volunteer fireman on the Farmersville-Waggoner Fire Department. He was a member of the Waggoner American Legion, Farmersville K.C. Council and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Farmersville.
During the 1987 Irish Days celebration, he was recognized as the “Farmersville Citizen of the Year.”
In addition to his wife, Mr. Clarke is survived by his two sons, Lynn (Patty) Clarke of Farmersville and Dale (Ronda) Clarke of Roanake, TX; grandchildren, Dustin Clarke of Fort Worth, TX, Clayton Clarke of Farmersville, Danielle (Charles) Rombold of Lantana, TX, and Kelsey (Alexander) Johnson of Owensboro, KY; and three great-grandchildren, Rhett, Reeve and Bradley Rombold.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Dennis in 1977 and Chris in 2011; and siblings, Bernard Clarke, Sister Matthias, OP, and Mary Eileen Weitekamp.
Memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.houghfuneralhome.com.
