Everett William "Star" Clark, Jr, age 89, of Montgomery City, MO, went home to be with the Lord on February 6, 2016 at the Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, MO.

Everett, son of Everett William and Elizabeth Louise (Stock) Clark, was born July 25, 1926 in Montgomery City. He grew up on the family farm and developed a strong work ethic that would last throughout his lifetime. During high school he earned the nickname "Star" for his skills on the basketball court. Everett graduated from Montgomery High School in 1944 and studied agriculture for one semester at college in Ames, IA. As a young adult, he continued playing sports and shined on the Buell softball team with a 0.476 batting average in summer '51.

On Easter Sunday, April 13, 1952, he married his sweetheart, Emily Catherine Wehrman at Buell Methodist Church. Everett and Catherine shared 56 years before she passed on September 22, 2008. To this union was born one daughter, Sally Roxanne. Their infant sons, Merrill Mark and Russell Ray, along with a stillborn son, returned to the Lord shortly after birth.

Everett and his bride bought a portion of her parents' farm near Buell where they worked side by side, eventually expanding the farm to 452 acres. They grew corn, wheat and soybeans, and raised hogs, cattle, sheep and chickens. They enjoyed gardening and caring for the occasional stray pet needing a home. Everett was a progressive farmer and an early advocate of terracing for soil conservation. He was also the first in Missouri to have a solar collector for grain drying and throughout the years participated in numerous projects with the University of Missouri Extension Service. God blessed Everett with a successful farming career and he and Catherine were proud their homestead was a Century Farm.

While farming consumed most of his days, Everett always made time on the Lord's day to attend the Buell United Methodist Church, where he joined as a teenager. He was a devout Christian, taught Sunday School and held various positions. Family was also important to Everett. Though farming kept him close to home, a highlight of his travels was a trip to Germany to visit his daughter and family. Everett was an avid Cardinals fan, watching games on TV, listening on the radio and occasionally attending in person.

Everett is survived by his daughter Sally Roxanne and husband Lee Whanger who live on the family farm. Granddaughter Amanda Kathryn (Avery) and husband John Hayes III of Tomball, TX; granddaughter Rebecca/Becky Susan (Avery) and husband John Brajner of St. Charles, MO; grandson Jacob Samuel Whanger and granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth Whanger, both of Montgomery City. Great-grandchildren John Sydney Hayes IV, Emily Kathryn Hayes, and Chase Everett Brajner, who is due this June and will have the honor of bearing his Great-Grampa's name. Everett is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Norma Clark of Columbia, MO and Karen Wehrman of Centralia, MO, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Catherine, his parents, and his siblings Laura Rebecca/Becky (Clark) and husband Virgil May, David Eugene and wife Edith Clark, Selden Leroy Clark and Evelyn Lucille (Clark) and husband Walt Talbot; brothers-in-law Howard Wehrman and wife Merle, Wendell Wehrman and wife Mary Jane, and Donald Wehrman and wife Betty. His family is comforted that he was welcomed by many through the gates of Heaven.

Visitation was held Wednesday, February 10 at the Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City. Funeral services were held on Thursday, February 11, at the Buell United Methodist Church, and officiated by Rev. Kim Boone. The procession to the Montgomery City Cemetery was led by Everett's International Harvester tractor 706, driven by his son-in-law. Casketbearers were John Brajner, Bob Morrow, David Wehrman, Daryl Cobb, Stan Carroz and Tom Powell. Honorary casketbearers were Richard Clark and Wayne May.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Buell United Methodist Church, the Montgomery City Cemetery Trust Association, or to the Alzheimer's Association, ? Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, MO 63361. Condolences may be made to www.schlankerfuneralhome.com.