The Life of Charles Michael Clark
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 5, 2012, at a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial in Holy Cross Catholic Church in Lafayette, celebrating the life of Deacon Charles Michael (Mike) Clark, 74, who died on Friday, March 2, 2012.
Rev. Howard Blessing, Pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Lafayette, will be the celebrant of the Funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Concelebrating the mass will be Reverend Floyd J. Calais, who will also deliver the eulogy, and Very Rev. Thomas James, SVD, VE, Pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lafayette, who will be the homilist. Deacon Rickey Picard and Deacon Louis Lloyd will serve as Deacons of the Mass. Lectors will be daughter-in-law, Tonya Clark and Scotty Baudoin. Giftbearers will be daughter, Michelle Binnings and the grandchildren of Mr. Clark. Wayne Hebert and Tana Meyers, vocalists, and Lisa Roy Sheppert, accompanist, will sing "You Are Mine", "I Long For You O Lord", "Blest Are They" and "May God Bless and Keep You" for the services. Interment will be in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Clark was born on August 28, 1937 in Scott, Louisiana to Dallas Clark and the former, Laurence Domingue. He was a resident of Lafayette for most of his life and was a member of Holy Cross Church community for 46 years.
In addition to serving in the U.S. Marine Reserve from 1955-1963, Mike was employed by Mayfair Window and Door as a design engineer and purchasing agent for 38 years. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Lafayette on August 9, 1980. Bishop Frey assigned him to serve as Deacon to Holy Cross Catholic Church Community with an emphasis on developing lay ministry. He served Holy Cross for over 31 years. In 1981, the Bishop appointed him, Associate Director of the Diaconate Formation Program. On July 1, 1983, he was appointed Vicar of Deacons for the Diocese of Lafayette. He served on various diocesan committees in addition to his Deacon ministry at Holy Cross. The people of Holy Cross loved and supported "Deacon Mike" throughout his ministry.
Mike retired from Mayfair in 1996 to become a full-time deacon and served as administrator of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rayne, LA for 6 years. Upon his second retirement, he enjoyed his hobbies of creating beautiful stained glass artwork and fishing. Most of all Mike loved spending time with his family. We were blessed to have a very special husband, Daddy, Pop-pop, brother, uncle and friend.
Mr. Clark is survived by his wife of 55 years, the former Gloria Norman; daughter, Michelle Binnings and her husband Mike; son, Chuck Clark and his wife Tonya; grandchildren, David Binnings and his wife Jennifer, Lori McGrew and her husband Travis and Jenny Clark; step-grandchildren, Matt and Paul Robichaux, Jeremy and Jenee' Benoit; great grandchildren, Mia and Lila Mae Binnings and Noelle McGrew; step-great grandchildren, Parker, Brechen and Rhylan Robichaux; sister, Mary Alice Clark; brother-in-law, Robert Norman; sisters-in-law, Sharon Norman and Doris Clark; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, M.J. (Bill) Pertuit; brothers, James (Jimmy) Clark and John (Butch) Clark; and great-granddaughter, Madeline McGrew.
Pallbearers will be Chuck Clark, Mike Binnings, David Binnings, Jeremy Benoit, Travis McGrew, Robert Norman, Danny Burney and Gerald Louviere. Honorary pallbearers are Matt Robichaux, Paul Robichaux, Rev. Floyd Calais, Deacon T. J. Richard and Dr. James Cole.
Visitation will be held in Martin & Castille's SOUTHSIDE Lafayette location on Sunday, March 4, 2012 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with a vigil service to be held at 7:00 PM and conducted by Deacon Richard Picard. Visitation will continue on Monday at Holy Cross Catholic Church from 8:00 AM until the time of service.
The family would like to thank Dr. James Cole, Dr. Patrick Laperouse and partners, Hospice of Acadiana and all of the friends who helped with Mike's transition.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maddie's Footprints, 205 Chevalier Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70503; Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St., Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503 or on their website at www.HospiceAcadiana.com; or the Miles Perret Center, 2130 Kaliste Saloom Rd., #200, Lafayette, LA 70508.
Martin & Castille-SOUTHSIDE-600 E. Farrel Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508, 337-984-2811
