CLARK, Michael Wayne 1962 - 1984
CLARK, RHOADS, FOSTER, MILLER
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:23:28
"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, August 27, 1984
Front Page, Columns 3, 4, 5, and 6Michael CLARK, 22, dies in fire
A fire in the home of his parents at 603 E. Pierce early Sunday morning proved fatal to Michael W. CLARK, 22, Fairfield. His body was found in the living room after firemen were able to enter the badly charred room.
Authorities were told CLARK was staying at the home while his parents were camping at Lake Darling State Park.
Neighbors told firemen they thought they heard CLARK arrive at his parents' home about 2 a.m.
Reports at the fire station this morning said it is assumed CLARK started to prepare some food and went to the living room where he fell asleep in front of the TV set.
Authorities said the fire started when a pan on the stove in the kitchen melted down, causing the grease to ignite. The flames quickly spread. The kitchen was badly damaged and the heat and smoke caused heavy damage to the remainder of the home.
Dr. J.T. Sutton, Jefferson County medical examiner, and Mike Hile, deputy state fire marshal from Mount Pleasant, were called to help investigate the blaze and resulting death.
Dr. Sutton said this morning the body had been taken to Des Moines for autopsy and certain identification. He had heard no report from the autopsy at noon today.
Firemen said a neighbor turned in the alarm at 3:21 a.m. When they arrived at the scene the house was heavily engulfed in flames and intense heat was shattering the windows. Damage to the home is estimated at $20,000.
CLARK was a 1980 graduate of Fairfield High School where he was active in golf and baseball. He was employed at the Dexter Co.
Services
Services for Michael W. CLARK will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Behner Funeral Home. The Rev. Lenwood Monte will officiate and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
Family visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. A memorial has been established.
CLARK was born Aug. 6, 1962, in Albia. He was the son of William and Ruth RHOADS CLARK.
In addition to his parents, CLARK is survived by a brother, Danny CLARK, Fairfield; a sister, Debbie FOSTER, Lockridge; a step-grandmother, Anna Mae CLARK, Albia; and a great-grandmother, Hazel MILLER, New Sharon.
~~~~
"The Fairfield Ledger"
Tuesday, August 28, 1984
Page 16, Columns 5 and 6Smoke inhalation death cause
An autopsy performed Monday in Des Moines showed that Michael W. CLARK, Fairfield, died of smoke inhalation, Dr. Thomas Bennett, state medical examiner, said today.
CLARK, 22, died early Sunday morning when a fire broke out in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bill CLARK, at 603 E. Pierce. CLARK was staying at the house while his parents were on a camping trip.
Officers said CLARK apparently started to prepare some food in the kitchen and went into the living room where he fell asleep in front of the TV set. The fire spread from the kitchen to other parts of the house and the structure was engulfed in flames when local firemen arrived at 3:21 a.m.
Based on the autopsy findings, Bennett called it "a straight forward case of smoke inhalation."
Dr. Terry Sutton, Jefferson County medical examiner, ruled CLARK's death was an accident and Bennett said he concurred in that conclusion. Both Sutton and Mike Hile, Mount Pleasant, deputy state fire marshal, were called to the scene Sunday morning.
CLARK was employed at the Dexter Company. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Weston Behner Funeral Home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
~~~~
Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc. IAGenWeb Bylaws PROHIBIT the COPYING AND RE-POSTING OF THIS MATERIAL IN ANY PUBLIC VENUE such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without WRITTEN permission from the poster ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.Note: Buried in Lot 4th.146.
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen