Estel Clark

Reverend Estel A. Clark was called home to be with his Lord on April 15, 2009.

Estel was born May, 29, 1926 to Frank and Edrie (Myers) Clark in East Jordan, MI. He is preceded in death by one brother, Richard Clark of Traverse City, MI, and two sisters, Margaret Eckerdt of Leesburg, FL, and Mary Lake of Traverse City, MI.

Estel leaves behind a wife, Inez (Bork) Clark of Traverse City, MI; two brothers Bill (Peggy) Clark of Ellsworth, MI, and Albert Clark of Traverse City, MI; one twin sister Esther Bailey of Allegan, MI; two children Terry (Karen) Clark of Fremont, MI, and Brenda (Patrick) Campbell of Jackson, MI; 4 grandchildren Grant and Brandon Clark of Fremont, MI, and Alex Patrice and Connor Campbell of Jackson, MI; a special niece Mary (Don) Philo of Buckley, MI, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Estel was active in sports and church while growing up in Traverse City. He helped out in the Golden Gloves program in the 1940's and 1950's, coached baseball and softball teams, and played on baseball teams that traveled the state of Michigan. He began teaching Sunday School at the churches he attended and this led to his call to become a pastor. He graduated from North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, MN, in 1961 as valedictorian of his class and took over the Assembly of God Church in Central Lake, MI in 1963. From there he proceeded to take the Assembly of God Church in Goodrich, MI in the fall of 1973, but returned to Central Lake in the summer of 1974 to found Grace Community Church, where he retired from in 2002.

While in Central Lake, Estel was active in the community coaching Little League baseball and being the public address announcer at Central Lake H.S. football games. He served on the village council in Central Lake and was fortunate enough to speak at numerous Baccalaureate and Graduation ceremonies at Central Lake H.S. His love of sports made him a fixture at football, basketball, and baseball games in Central Lake and he loved traveling to district and regional basketball and baseball games.

Funeral services will be held at Grace Community Church in Central Lake on Sunday, April 19, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Max Tracey officiating. Visitation will be Saturday, April 18, from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Home. Internment will be at Southern Cemetery in Central Lake. Any memorial contributions can be directed to Grace Community Church, P.O. Box 400, Central Lake, MI, 49622, or Traverse Bay Mennonite Church, 915 Carver St., Traverse City, MI, 49686. Please sign our online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.