M7101

EDWARD FRANKLIN CLARK

Edward Franklin Clark was born September 14, 1890 in Farmington Utah, the first child of Edward Barrett and Wealthy Richards Clark. He was given a name and a blessing on December 4, 1890.

At the age of eight, Edward was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was an active and faithful member of the Church his entire life.

In 1908, he graduated from the Farmington Academy. During the Academy's final exams, he met Inez Potter, who would become his future wife. His first impressions of Inez were that she had a "keen sense of humor" and that "she would be interesting to learn more about."

He graduated from LDS High School in Salt Lake City in 1912 and left for a proselyting mission to Australia later that year. A most memorable episode of his mission was the boat ride to the Land Down Under. The ship ran into a massive storm, and he felt at one point that he would die. He had received a blessing, however, under the hands of Elder James E. Talmage of the Council of the Twelve, "who said I would go and fill a mission and return home and find my folks all home and the ship would be protected for my sake." Needless to say, he fulfilled an honorable mission, serving most of his time in Brisbane, Australia and Tasmania. On his way back to Utah he stayed in San Francisco with a sick missionary instead of hurrying home.

An excerpt from his missionary journal sums up his feelings for his mission:

"Today ends the 'First Year' of my absence from home and loved ones so dear. Those twelve months have been happily spent in the service of the Lord and have passed rapidly and pleasantly away. They have brought changes and experiences into my life which cannot be estimated in dollars and cents."

Ed returned home to Farmington, Utah from his mission in January, 1915. That April, he married his sweetheart, Inez Aureta Potter, in the Salt Lake Temple. Ed and Inez had five boys:

Darrell born March 19, 1916, died March 20, 1916

Stanford E. born September 21, 1917

Norman W. born March 25, 1920, died February 7, 1989

Harlow J. born September 6, 1924

Preston Richards born January 22, 1930

Ed's children remember him as a fine and loving father. He was also a faithful, kind and considerate husband to his wife. He repeatedly said that the happiest day of his life was the day he married Inez.

(LCM)