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Royce Gene Clark was born on March 11, 1937, in a farmhouse in Hurlwood, Texas. Royce's parents were Irwin and Doris Parnell Thornhill Clark. This farm was located two miles from where Reese Air Force Base was located in Lubbock County, Texas. He grew up in the Anton and Whitharrel area of West Texas. He attended elementary school in Whitharrel grades 1-5. In 1949 the Clark family moved to Lubbock where Royce attended J. T. Hutchinson Jr. High.
He grew up wanting to be an entertainer with the likes of Buddy Holly and Waylon Jennings being his role models. From 1956 until 1967 he was a recording artist, bandleader and songwriter for his groups known as The Nomads, The Rhythmaires, The Corvairs and the Beacons. He performed nationally with music stars such as Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Faron Young, Loretta Lynn, Jeannie C. Riley and many more.
The music industry lead him to Nashville, Tennessee in February of 1966. Here he was a producer for Plantation Records. His success in the industry resulted in being nominated for two Grammy awards fro hi work with Jeannie C. Riley's Harper Valley P. T. A. and Freddy Fenders "Before The Next Teardrop Falls".
Between the years of 1978 and 1990 he was active in music and branched out into acting. He appeared in numerous movies and television shows, including Coal Miner's Daughter, The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia, This Man Stands Alone and Reba's Greatest Hits video.
He lived in Nashville, Tennessee until his death on December 26, 2003. He died in Enumclaw, Washington where he had gone to spend Christmas with the family of an old friend.
He is preceded in death by his parents Irwin and Doris Clark in 1975 and 1981 respectively and a son Jeremy.
Survivors include two children Doris Koesler and Charles Fette both of Muenster, Texas and seven grandchildren and his best friend and companion Tena Spence of Jacksonville, Fl.
The family decided to bring him back to Texas to be with his parents again for eternity
Obituary courtesy of: Adams Funeral Home
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Crosby County TXGenWeb Project
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