Clark Ray Elder

Marysvale, Utah - Clark Ray Elder was born on June 10, 1934, in Marysvale, Utah, to Irene and Milton R. Elder. He was raised by his mother and his grandparents, Joseph and Margaret Tate, alongside his uncle, Arnold Tate. Marysvale wasn’t just where Clark grew up, it was the heart of his entire life only leaving to attend college in Logan at Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University), where he played both baseball and basketball for the Aggies.

Clark was a proud graduate of Marysvale High School and a talented multi-sport athlete in his youth, which helped open the door for him to compete at Utah State on the diamond and on the court. During the mid-1950s he appeared on the Aggie men’s basketball roster in games against opponents such as Wyoming, Colorado A&M, and New Mexico, wearing Utah State blue.

After completing his college years, Clark entered the United States Army in 1956, serving honorably in Germany as a Military Police officer until 1958 and remained a reservist until his discharge in 1962. His time overseas shaped him, but home was always on his mind. When he returned home, fate brought him to the love of his life, Lois Jean Elder. Lois was a young widow with four small children, and despite his mother’s reservations, Clark and Lois ran off to Pioche, Nevada, where they were married on May 6, 1961. Clark later adopted Lois’s four children, loving them fully and fiercely as his own. The two shared a long, devoted marriage until he lost “his girl” in 2015. Clark never remarried, he spent the next ten years missing her deeply and wishing to be by her side again.

Clark was passionate about many things, Lois always being number one. Close behind were gold, mining, and poker. Throughout his life, he maintained several mining claims and taught anyone interested the pride and satisfaction of holding and working a claim. He especially loved the joy of refusing to sell to the “damn Canadians,” and passed down a sense of independence, humor, and respect for the land.

He hunted with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, fiercely protecting their game from over-eager sportsmen who wandered too close. He loved to tell stories, recite poetry, and scare the daylights out of kids of all ages. None of us will forget Sam McGee, the story of Laska, or the unforgettable lady with the frying pan and butcher knife.

Clark believed deeply in community. No matter where he worked, Marysvale was always his home. He encouraged all of us to root ourselves in our communities the way he did. He was blessed with many lifelong friends there, most of whom he had to bury along the way.

Clark lived a life of loyalty—to his family, the land, his community, and the woman he loved. He lived with grit, humor, and a stubborn kind of love that never let go. And those of us who knew him carry his stories, his lessons, and his spirit forward.

Clark is survived by his children: Craig Christensen (husband of Deborah), Glenna Shaw, Terry (Kathleen) Elder, and Kathleen Snedeger, 14 grandchildren: Stephanie, Sandy, Chris, Staci, David, Shanda, Steven, Brandon, Misty, Sheri, JC, Robert, Chase & Wyatt. Many great-grandchildren & great-great-grandchildren. His family is vast, deeply rooted, and filled with people who carry his stories, his strength, and his spirit forward.

Clark was preceded in death by: His beloved wife, Lois Jean Elder; daughter, Deborah Christensen; son-in-law, Terry Shaw.

Graveside services for Clark will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at the Marysvale Cemetery under the care of Springer Turner Funeral Homes of Richfield and Salina.