David D. Clarke

Gorham- David D. Clarke, age 85, passed away peacefully at his home, with his family by his side, on Friday, August 25, 2023.

          By his request, there will be no public services. He will be buried in Gorham Cemetery, with Military Honors.

          Memorial contributions may be made to the Stanley-Hall-Gorham Ambulance, P.O. Box 57, Hall, NY 14463; or the Pulmonary Hypertension Assistance Fund, 8401 Colesville Rd., Suite 200, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or www.PHAssociation.org.

          Dave was born Feb. 6, 1938. He was the son of the late Arthur D. Clarke and Ruth E. Bagshaw Clarke. Dave attended Gorham High School, and later earned his GED.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Dave married Sylvia Pierson on Nov. 28, 1959.

          Dave worked for the Gorham Highway Department for over 30 years and retired in 1999 as Highway Superintendent. After retirement, he drove school buses for Marcus Whitman Central School, and then became a Bus Mechanic until he was 75.

Dave was a former member of the Canandaigua American Legion. He had been a member of the NYS Highway Superintendent’s Association, and of several area County Highway Superintendent’s associations. Dave was a proud member of the NRA. He was also a lifetime member of the Gorham Fire Company.

Dave enjoyed hunting and fishing with friends. He and old friend George Johnson had gone on fishing trips to Black Lake for over 50 years. Dave was an “International” man, who enjoyed driving one of George Johnson’s tractors in the annual Gorham Memorial Day Parade.

Dave was an amazing husband, “Dad” and “Pa”. He was very close to his grandsons, and his great-grandson, who he saw almost every day. Dave shared his love of hunting, fishing and collecting guns with his grandson, Patrick. Dave and his grandson, Daniel, had restored a 1946 McCormick Farmall A together.

Dave is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sylvia; two daughters, Rebecca (Frank) Long and Jennifer (Bubby) Kerrick; two grandsons, Patrick David (Katelynn) Kerrick and Daniel Clair Kerrick; great-grandson, Kaysen David Kerrick; Bassett Hound, Tucker; brother, James Clarke; two sisters-in-law, Karen Clarke and Mary Pierson; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Jack Clarke and Richard Clarke; sister, Joyce Benedict and her husband, Benny; sister-in-law, Shirley Taylor; and brother-in-law, Doug Pierson.

Please visit www.kenperkinsfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence for the Clarke family.