Doyle S. Clark
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5A - March 8, 2012
Doyle S. Clark, 89, Grand
Junction, died March 3, 2012, at
his residence.
A service is 3 p.m. Monday at
Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.
Mr. Clark was a senior drilling
specialist for the U.S. Government.
Survivors include two sons,
Lynn and Mark S., both of
Grand Junction; two daughters,
Doyla Etcheverry and Melissa
Ogg, both of Grand Junction;
one brother, Herbie Clark of
Durant, Okla.; 14 grandchildren;
17 great-grandchildren;
and one great-great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions to
Roice-Hurst Humane Society,
PO Box 4040, Grand Junction,
CO 81502.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B - March 9, 2012
D o y l e S . C l a r k p e a c e f u l l y
passed away, Saturday, March 3,
2012, at his long time Grand
Junction residence surrounded by
his children and grandchildren.
Doyle was born to Walter and
Lois (Holt) Clark on March 10,
1 9 2 2 , i n Wi l s o n , O k l a h o m a .
Doyle grew up in the depression
era and at the age of 15 enlisted in
the Civilian Conservation Corp.
and planted trees in Colorado before
enlisting in the army in 1937.
He was stationed at Fort Lewis,
Washington, for basic training
and amphibious landing. He was
then transferred to Camp Chaffee,
Arkansas. He departed the US on
October 24, 1942, as Staff Sergeant
enroute to North Africa. He
was in the 30th Infantry Regiment
of the 3rd Infantry Division.
He became friends with fellow
soldier, Audey Murphy. Their friendship brought them together
many years later in Las Vegas, NV. During his tour in North Africa
and Central Europe, Doyle bravely fought in seven campaigns,
Rhineland-Central Europe, Fedala-Casa Blanca, Tunisia, Sicily,
Naples-Foggia Italy, Rome-Arno and Southern France. He also
made six amphibious landings including Anzio Beachhead,
Sicily-Italy, Southern France, Algeria-North Africa. He was
wounded in action near San Stefano, Sicily, August 2, 1943, and
again near Flassons, France, August 18, 1944. Doyle was awarded
the Purple Heart with one Bronze Oakleaf Cluster, good conduct
medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign
Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars
and one Silver Service Star, WWII Victory Medal and WWII Honerable
Service Button. Doyle was a true patriot and never hesitated
to stand and defend his country. He sent his paychecks home to help
his family keeping just enough to live on since times were so hard
back then. The love he had for his family back home was evident in
the sacrifices he made for them. Doyle returned from France at the
end of his active duty, March 3, 1946. He was honorably discharged
in 1955, after spending time in the Army Reserve.
On December 27, 1945, he married Imogene Ogletree in New York
City. They honeymooned at Niagra Falls. After his active duty they
returned to Oklahoma where he embarked on his career in the oil
field which spanned 60 plus years. They started their family and had
four children.
Doyle was a Driller and Tool Pusher in OK, TX, KS, NE, UT, MT,
NM, WY and NV. He worked for Sterling Drilling Co.,Garvey, Nye
& Snell, Circle A, Brinkerhoff, Laughlin Brothers,just to mention a
few. In 1964 he began work for Fennix & Scisson at the Test Site in
Mercury, NV. He was a Senior Drilling Specialist and managed
several big hole drilling rigs that drilled the massive holes used for
Nuclear Bomb testing by the US Atomic Energy Commission. He
returned to Colorado in 1972, and helped kick off Project Rulison,
but returned to Nevada before completion. When Government
operations slowed, he returned to work in Colorado and Utah.
Doyle and Imogene ended their 27 year marriage. Several years
later he met Colleen Koops in Moab, Utah, and they were married.
They moved to Rangely, CO, where he worked for R.L. Manning.
Later he was called back to work for Fennix & Scisson as Sr.
Drilling Supervisor. He oversaw the operation of a 122" diameter by
2400 ft deep hole drilled and cased by Rowan Drilling Co. on
Piceace Creek for oil shale exploration by the Bureau of Mines.
During this time he and Colleen purchased a home in Grand Junction.
He returned to working at the Test Site in Nevada traveling
back and forth between Indian Springs, NV, and Grand Junction,
until his retirement in 1988. He spent his remaining years in Grand
Junction.
Doyle was widely known and highly respected by his peers.
Anyone who met him soon discovered his knowledge of drilling rigs
and his devotion and commitment to do his very best. He was totally
committed to maintaining a safe and accident free workplace. He
was a generous man often opening his wallet to help a friend in need
or down on their luck. He was a great son, brother, husband, father,
grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed by many. He was a
member of Sterling Lodge No. 171 ,AF & AM in Sterling, KS, for
65 years.
He was preceeded in death by his father, Walter; mother, Lois;
brothers, James and Don; sisters, Modell Seachrist and Melba
McClanahan; grandsons, Wayne Clark and Cody Ogg, and his two
wives. He is survived by his brother, Herbie (Sally), Durant, OK;
sons, Lynn (Geraldine), Glade Park, CO; Mark S., Grand Junction;
daughters, Doyla Etcheverry, Grand Junction; Melissa (David) Ogg,
Grand Junction; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, and one
great-great-granddaughter.
A memo r i a l s e r v i c e w i l l b e h e l d Mo n d a y , Ma r c h 1 2 , a t
Callahan-Edfast Mortuary at 3:00 p.m., with presentations by VA
and Masonic Memorial Lodge III. There will be no graveside
service and donations may be made to Roice-Hurst.
