James E. Clarke Junior – Descendant of early Napa Valley Pioneers

James E. Clarke Junior passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2003,
at his home in Gordon Valley, where he and his wife, Lucy, had
resided for the last year. Mr. Clarke was born November 13, 1926,
in St. Helena. He was the descendant of early Napa Valley pioneers
who settled here prior to the gold rush. He graduated from St.
Helena High School in 1944 and then served two years in the Navy.
He attended Santa Rosa Junior College for two years and graduated
in 1950 from the University of Colorado with a B.S. (CE) degree.
Initially, Mr. Clarke worked for the California Division of
Highways, American Bridge Company in Indiana and Basalt Rock
Company. He went to work for Kaiser Steel Corporation in 1955 and
became the General Manager of Fabrication for the company’s
Fabricated Products Group in Napa. He retired in 1985. In 1993, Mr.
Clarke married Lucy (nee Biurvall), and the following year, they
moved to Trinity County to pursue traveling and fly-fishing. In
addition to being an accomplished fly-fisherman, he enjoyed all
aspects of the great outdoors. For over 50 years, Mr. Clarke was a
Master Mason member of the Sotoyome-Curtis Lodge No. 123, F&AM,
in Healdsburg. He was a Life Member of the Republican National
Committee and also held long-time memberships in the National Rifle
Association, Friends of the Trinity River, Cal-Trout and Trout
Unlimited. Mr. Clarke is survived by his wife, Lucy; two sons,
James E. Clarke and wife, Cheri, of Vacaville; Thomas B. Clarke and
wife, Joanna, of Gordon Valley; daughter, Bethanie Lindroos and
husband, Thorman, of Windsor; step-daughter, Stacy Butler of Napa;
step-son, Mike Butler and wife, Chris, of Napa; sister, Jeanne
Stanton of Rocklin, and seven grandchildren (Christopher, Trevor
and Eric Lindroos; Dana and Daniel Clarke; Austin and Michael
Butler). Funeral services were held at Treadway & Wigger
Funeral Chapel, 623 Coombs Street, Napa, on Thursday, July 24,
followed by committal services at the Yountville Cemetery. Both
services were under the auspices of the Healdsburg Lodge. F
riends called at the funeral home on Wednesday, July 23. If
wanting to do so, the family suggests that memorial contributions
be made to either Kaiser Vallejo Hospice, 975 Sereno Drive,
Vallejo, CA 94589, or the Scottish Rite Childrens Learning Center,
600 Acacia Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95409.