Paul "Mike" Clark

Paul Michael “Mike” Clark, 84, of Owensboro, entered eternal life Saturday October 12, 2024. 

Born in Mount Saint Joseph community in West Daviess County, Mike was the 7th child of the late Charles E. and Mary C. Mackin Clark. He graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School; received his bachelor’s from St. Edwards College in Texas; and received his Rank 1 from Western Kentucky University. 

 Mike’s life was one of service: He served as a missionary in Equatorial West Africa for almost seven years and found ways to work with troubled youth in severe settings after finishing college. In 1972 Mike married Rose; the couple moved from Indianapolis back home to Owensboro when Mike accepted a teaching position at Apollo High School.

 He served Daviess County Public Schools 28 years, serving as Assistant Principal Daviess County Middle School (1984-1988); Assistant Principal (1988-1991) and then Principal (1991-2000) of Burns Middle School. 

 Mike was called to serve Diocese of Owensboro School System, where he was principal of Trinity High School and Mary Carrico Catholic School. Mike went on to serve two four-year terms as a board member of the Daviess County Board of Education until 2021. He spent a total of 50 years in service to education. 

 Faith was a foundational pillar of Mike’s life: Deeply involved in a variety of ministry roles in the Catholic Church, Mike participated as a leader in Cursillo Retreats, Koinone Retreats, and led small scripture study/prayer groups. He also volunteered at St. Benedict’s Shelter for homeless men. Mike and Rose began every day with prayer and scripture reflection. Each night he and Rose concluded the day with prayer. 

 Outside of his faith and family, Mike pursued challenging fitness activities including distance running events (Boston Marathon # 99), backpacking, canoeing, road bike riding distance events, almost daily visits to a favorite gym, motorcycle riding locally and on long distance trips and many hours trail riding on horseback. He and Rose traveled through major countries in Western Europe, and Mike through Africa.

 It was after the death of their daughter Megan, the Clarks, and a core group of other caring individuals, founded and developed Dream Riders of Kentucky, a therapeutic horseback riding program.

 Mike was preceded in death by parents, Charles E. “Ted” Clark and Mary “Till” Mackin Clark; his daughter Megan; his brothers, Bobby Clark, Edward Clark, Gene Clark, Jim Clark; and sisters, Martha Hayden and Mary Hester.

 Those left to cherish his memory include the love of his life, his wife of 53 years, Rose Ann Clark; his son Brian (Deanna) Clark; daughter Erin Marie Clark; grandchildren, Hunter, Cody and Bailey Clark; great-grandson Hudson Michael Clark; sisters, Nancy (Don) Pierce and Linda Tate; and brothers, David (Onee) Clark and Benny (Paula) Clark. 

 The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Thursday, October 17, at the Carmel Home. Wednesday visitation will be at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory from 3:00 until 7:00 PM, with prayers at 6:30 PM. Thursday visitation will be from 9:30 AM until the time of Mass at the Carmel Home. Entombment will be at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

 Memorial contributions may be made to Dream Riders of Kentucky, 4705 Winkler Rd., Philpot, KY 42366. 

 Messages and condolences for the family may be shared at www.glenncares.com.