James Thomas Clarke

James T. Clarke, Jim to his family and friends, passed at 94 years old on December 7, 2025, in Amarillo, Texas. He was born on March 9, 1931, in Littlefield, Texas to Claude T Clark and Wanda Gregory Clark. He moved to Sundown, Texas with his mother and siblings after his father’s death. He was active in and excelled at all sports. Jim was class president every year he was in high school and received numerous athletic scholarships offers. Upon graduation he enrolled at Texas Tech University and played football in 1949 and 1950. He was called up for the draft and enlisted in the Navy in 1951. He was in the Construction Battalion (CB’s) and worked in North Africa and the building of Guantanamo Naval Station in Cuba. He returned to Texas Tech in 1955 and won his scholarship back. He again played football for Tech in 1955 and 1956.

Jim met Elaine Frisbie at Texas Tech. They were married September 1, 1958. He worked for Gibson Plumbing in Lubbock and started Jim’s Plumbing in Hereford in 1964. Jim had several businesses over his career. He went to work for Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Company and was their agency manager until his retirement.

Jim was a lifetime bird hunter and perfected his skills in skeet and trap shooting He won the Oklahoma State Trap once and multiple other trap shooting competitions. He taught his sons and grandsons to love hunting as much as he did. He was a member of the Hereford and Amarillo gun clubs for many years.

Jim is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Elaine. He is also survived by his four children and their families, sons Tom Clarke and wife Toma, Brent Clarke, and Bruce Clarke and wife Melissa, and daughter Michelle Hall; his grandchildren, Joe Clarke, James Clarke and his wife Lauren, Maddie Clarke, Zach Clarke and wife Katelyn, Ella Joy Clarke, Morgan and husband Greg, Troy Clarke and wife Cassie; and his great grandchildren, Carver, Makenzie, Melody, Bailey and Jolee. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and a few hunting and shooting buddies,

The Clarke family wishes to express their deepest gratitude and appreciation to the staff of the Veterans Community Living Center and hospice for the excellent care and tremendous kindness shown to Jim and our entire family.

A memorial service to honor Jim’s life will be on January 10, 2026, in the Parish Hall of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Canyon at 1:00 PM. A private inurnment was held at St. Anthony’s Cemetery in Hereford, Texas.