Joe Ralph Clark, 76 of Summit, passed away October 12 at his home following a long and courageous battle with Congestive Heart Failure. Joe was the fourth of five sons of Hulon and Maggie Guyton Clark. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Larry, Bruce and Mike Clark. He is survived by one brother, Jimmy Dale Clark. He and his wife of 55 years, Kay W. Clark, are the parents of Nicole Clark Orr (Stephen) of Kenya, Africa and Kim Clark Craney (Rodger) of Huntsville, AL. Grandchildren include Claudia Orr Rosser (Charlie) of Bridgeport, W. VA, Stephen Orr Jr. of Memphis, TN, Jenna Nicole Craney and Natalie Craney of Huntsville, AL and one great granddaughter, Ruby Nicole Rosser of Bridgeport, W. VA. Also surviving Mr. Clark is one brother, Jimmy Dale Clark. Joe was a graduate of McComb High School and Mississippi State University. He began his engineering career with the Florida Road Division in Tallahassee. He later moved to Jackson, MS where he worked for a number of engineer-related firms. In 1980 he began working for the State Aid Road Division, the agency responsible for building and maintaining county roads and bridges. After a few years he became Bridge Engineer and developed procedures for structurally rating and posting 12,000 bridges. He developed and detailed long span pre-stressed beam and concrete flat slab standard bridges and software for box culvert hydraulic analysis and curve bridge geometry. He also administered statewide bridge inspections, including underwater inspections. In 1988 he was appointed State Aid Engineer by Governor Bill Allain and re-appointed by Governor Ray Mabus and Governor Kirk Fordice. After 25 years with State Aid, he retired and began working for consultants in the Jackson, MS area and later in Huntsville, AL. Following a severe heart attack and subsequent by-pass surgeries, he retired for the final time, moved back to MS and built a house in Summit where he enjoyed riding around town in his red golf cart with Max, his constant canine companion, at his side. Visitation is Sunday at Sharkey Funeral Home, 1023 Old Brookhaven Road (Exit 20B) Summit, MS 39666 from 3PM until services at 4PM with Bro. Charles Ray and Bro. Bob Phelps officiating. Burial will be in Hollywood cemetery. Pallbearers include Casey Childress, Billy Carr Crider, Bud McDaniel, Kevin McDaniel, Butch Mulkey, Stephen Orr, Jr., Carl Ray, Hiram Sumrall and Bill Thomasson. Memorials may be made to "Aussie Rescue and Placement". P.O. Box 5305, New Castle, PA 16105. www.aussierescue.org Share condolences at catchingsfuneralhome