Gerald Hurley Clark

20 Dec 1932 - 08 Jul 2019

Gerald Hurley Clark

20 Dec 1932 - 08 Jul 2019

Passed away after a time of illness on July 8, 2019, with family by his side.

Will be greatly missed by Noeline, Paul, Ruth, Sandra, his extended family and all who knew him.

A special thank you for the wonderful care from Princess Alexandra, Cranford Hospice and medical staff.

A Service to celebrate Gerald’s life was held at All Saints Anglican Church, Taradale on Friday, July 12, 2019 at 1pm followed by internment at Western Hills Cemetery.

A donation in Gerald’s memory to the Church Missionary Society was collected at the service.

Tributes to Gerald or messages to his family can be left via www.dunstalls.co.nz or C/o PO Box 1055, Napier, 4140.

Gerald was a much loved and much respected gentle Christian giant whose spiritual maturity and humility were a tribute to his faith. I will always be grateful for 3 years walking alongside him, sharing ministry and friendship, and gaining a friend, Much love to his home family and his church family in their time of grief,
Steve

Revd Steve Hayes ( 16 Jul 2019 )

Dear Noeline and family.
I was so sorry not to be well enough to attend the service for Gerald on Friday .
I have been unwell all week but at church this morning everyone was telling me what a wonderful tribute to Gerald it was and I was so sorry I was unable to be present.
Gerald was such a dear and so special to us all. Thank you so much for sharing him with us all.
I do hope that all the happy fond memories and photos will help give you peace and comfort at this time.
Thinking of you so much
Love Phyllida Isles
Xx

Phyllida isles ( 14 Jul 2019 )

Gerald and Noeline, we shared so many happy times,1985 when we first met you till now.saying goodbye in march was hard but we will meet again.Love to all the family, a great husband,father and grandad and great lgrandad also a wonderful friend to all.Our love Heather and Barry

The hebas. ( 12 Jul 2019 )

My sympathy and thoughts are with the Clark family, and friends as you farewell Gerald today. A wonderful man and gentleman, with a lot of heart. I really appreciate having shared family friendship with Gerald, Noeline and family over the years, and, wish I could be there to say goodbye. I'm grateful we enjoyed a conversation in December. As Dad would have said "With Prayerful Good Wishes".

Priscilla Taylor ( 12 Jul 2019 )

I was very sad to hear from Gerald a few weeks ago that this would probably be the last time he contacted me, but knew he would want me to take something positive from his passing, when the time came. The recent email from Noeline and family made me think back to the last time I saw Gerald. It was November, 2007, and Gerald had travelled over to England so that he could help my Mum, Gladys Upton (nee clark) celebrate her 100th birthday at a celebration lunch with many friends in her home town of Market Drayton, in Shropshire. Gerald studied with great interest a display of some copies of old photos, including a couple of when he, along with his family, were about to emigrate to New Zealand. He gave a short speech at Mum's ( his Aunty Gladys's) birthday lunch, which made her day very special, and spent some time talking to my son Andrew, wife Kay, and grandson Thomas, who was nearly two at the time. Gerald stayed at Mum's house that night, and then went off to visit various friends, coming back nearly two weeks later to spend the night on the boat I live on at Mountsorrel, in Leicestershire - something that was a new experience for him. He said to me then that he would be unlikely to make the journey to England again.
Noeline and family - I have never met you, but will be thinking of you, especially on Friday. Love, Beryl

Beryl McDowall ( 12 Jul 2019 )

I'm very sad to hear of Gerald's death. What a big loss it will be for his family and community. I have lovely memories of his closeness to our family both in Tanzania, on our return and through the more recent years of illhealth of his close friends Ron and Barbara and also our sister Elisabeth to whom he was almost a second father. What an inspiration he has been a faithful friend and servant of God. Love to the family from Kathy

Kathy Barnes née Taylor ( 11 Jul 2019 )

Our last time.

It was the night before we left Napier after a whirlwind visit from Germany. The second time we had made the trip. (The first being in November 2017 where grandad met and christened our son Edward as he did for me when I was a baby). We met for a family dinner. It had been discussed to perhaps meet the following morning for a final farewell before we drove off. Grandad suggested that maybe it may be better to say our goodbyes then and there. He knew better how to say goodbye in hindsight. I was taken aback and unprepared for this proposition but decided reluctantly not to pursue the issue further and instead to respect his wisdom.
It was dark with light reflecting on the wet asphalt of the camp ground as my wife and son and I stood watching him walk away. I knew it was for the last time. As the distance between us grew I resolved to take in all of this moment. He turned and waved and continued on a few more paces then turned again for a long slow final wave. One such, that one would use when bidding a ship leaving port farewell. Perhaps something he had done before.. The moment was intense but perfect. Departing on his own terms and of his own free will. A regal character slipping away into the night. Onwards to more special last times.

Tyrone Clark,Germany,10/07/2019

Tyrone Clark ( 11 Jul 2019 )

We give thanks for Gerald's long and faithful life of dedicated teaching, ordained ministry and missionary service. We also give thanks for the tapestry of music and choral singing, of tramping and good friendship, that we have shared with Gerald and Noeline over recent years. As a family, may the love of God in Christ that you have shared with so many, be your strength now.

Murray Mills ( 10 Jul 2019 )