Clark Beckham

Ray Kenneth Clark. Papa. A combat war veteran, author, father to some of the most important people in my life and my personal no-nonsense life coach passed away Tuesday February 24th with my mom, my wife and I by his side.

The moment was filled with gratitude and sadness. Both complete and neither compromising the other. Grateful for the opportunity to be led by such a prominent life, for slow conversations, for his classy nature and strong culinary opinions. While embracing the full depth of sadness that comes when that man is suddenly gone.

Some of our last conversations will live forever in me:

1) Don’t just sit around learning things. Sometimes the only way to get better at something is to do it.

2) When you feel overwhelmed, just do whatever is right in that very moment. Then do the next right thing and repeat.

These are familiar, cherished proverbs he’s given through the years. But one conversation stood above the rest. I’ll hold onto it till the day I die. He sat in the hospital bed and told me he’ll either recover from this and live 20 more years, or… he won’t. “I’m not afraid of dying,” he said. “…because I’m pretty sure I know what’s on the other side,” an almost mischievous grin crept across his face “…and if I’m right?…” that grin turned to childlike elation as if to admit the hypothetical was merely rhetorical.

I’m happy to know that today he stands with his mother, his father, his niece Kacie, the soldiers he lost in Vietnam and his creator; the lover of his soul, with that same big smile, knowing now, what he knew before: he was right.