The Freeport to Port O’Connor Toy Run had 40 boats – 160 kind folks – bringing toys this year.

We filled up three enclosed trailers and a 20 ft. open trailer and truck with 65 bikes and loads of toys.

We had 13 organizations come from surrounding areas to furnish toys to over 2,300 children.

Thank you, Toy Run!

Being Thankful And Blessed For Island Life

Greetings from the island everyone. I hope that all of you are doing well and had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends, and have plans for an even more wonderful time celebrating Christmas next week! Corky and I brought back lots of leftovers from our Thanksgiving with the family in Seadrift.

Christmas is such a great time of year for blessings, and to bring smiles to the faces of kids and grown-ups alike. POC has a wonderful tradition of holding the annual Freeport to Port O’Connor Toy Run, where toys are delivered for kids by way of traveling the water and delivering the huge assortment of toys by boat. I enjoy going upstairs and watching the boats coming across Matagorda Bay, as they make their way in from Freeport and begin heading into The Inn at Clark’s Marina for unloading. You would be amazed at the number of toys that are collected and donated for this great annual event. Thank You to the resilient and big-hearted boaters that make this long waterway trek from Freeport, and also to the local boaters. The POC Chamber of Commerce always provides wonderful pictures of the event on their social media Facebook site, please go check them out.

The official beginning of winter will be here in a few short days, always occurring annually on December 21st or 22nd in the United States, also referred to as the winter solstice, the day with the fewest hours of sunlight in the whole year. Even though Spring is my most favorite time of year, I also enjoy the barrier island winter months. My reclusiveness really shines during these months, relishing in the solitude and quietness associated with island life. I sometimes think back on my law enforcement career, ending nearly 16 years ago now, when solitude and quietness were non-existent words in that line of work. I do miss the brotherhood and some of the people that I worked with, especially those that I knew I could count on to have my “six”. . . but the job itself, one that social cry-baby restrictions now would certainly prohibit me from successfully carrying out, is simply a distant memory.

The seashells and miscellaneous beach finds have been pretty abundant the past several months. I enjoy finding the occasional fishing lures, good rope, buoys/channel markers and 5-gallon buckets to use around the house. You just truly never know what you might find that has washed up on the Gulf of Mexico beach, and of course the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean can also provide and generate Gulf of Mexico beach finds. In my nearly 22 years total out here, I have become very selective in what beach finds I’ll cart back to the house, preferring to either leave behind the common treasures/seashells for others to find and enjoy, or occasionally gather a bucket full for kids. Heck, I’d have already filled several warehouses with “stuff”, if I had brought everything back!

My current batch of chickens and guineas have pretty much run their course as far as egg production goes. I have had these for over four years now, much longer than I usually keep them before giving them away. At about the three year mark, egg production, especially during the colder months, drops to nearly nothing. . . yet they continue to need feed, which is nearly $20 a week! My plans are to bring out a new young batch of chickens and guineas, 15-20 total, in the Spring.

Well, that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and have a most wonderful Christmas!

Kenneth Elliott Clark

I have thought about this day a lot in the past few years. wondering what I would want to say about my dad. How do you summarize who he was? I still don’t know the answer but I’ll tell you Who He was to Me.
He was a man of commitment to what he believed. He wasn’t a person who went around saying what he believed, but what he believed in was very clear. He was committed to his spiritual beliefs, his family and the community of people who surrounded him.

I remember growing up trying to understand why Dad did the things he did. I explained it to myself as simply his spiritual beliefs.

He gave to people when it made no sense that he gave. He didn’t worry about tomorrow. He felt certain tomorrow would take care of itself. He believed that God would take care of all his needs. This drove mom and me crazy at times but his faith never wavered. And you know, things always did work out.

He easily forgave what would have been near unforgivable for me. I asked him many times, “How can you let people treat you that way?” He replied, “If they are willing to act that way, it is about their character not mine.” Confronting them will not teach them character.

Dad tried his best to be a good man; a loving, kind, generous, forgiving, fair man. No one is perfect but he gave it his all. I honestly don’t think it was hard for him. It was just rooted in the depths of his soul.

I am very proud of my dad’s commitment to his beliefs. He blessed us with an example of kindness, generosity, spirituality; something I can only hope to achieve.

He ascribed to the Christian belief that we are all God’s children and no man is better than another.

He was a very proud man, never wanting a hair out of place, but he was also a humble man. He measured a person by their character. He could be found having dinner with millionaires one night and riding on a trash truck the next day trying to help a friend who had a worker not show up. Or suit and tie, covered in mud, cleaning out a septic tank. It didn’t matter. He saw nothing as being above him nor nothing being beneath him.

Dad should have been a contractor, a ship builder or an architect. Nothing stirred his creative energy more than building something. It didn’t matter if he was building a fort made of dead branches with his grandson Tyler, a 30-foot shrimp boat, a 70-foot gulf boat, or a house. If he got an idea in his head (or mother put an idea in his head) of something to build, you might as well sit back and enjoy the ride because it was going to be built – against some of our wishes! That’s how we ended up with a restaurant, hotel and a beautiful house. And, yes, he sometimes got carried away with the size of things. But there was no stopping him.

It is in the Elliott gene pool to be stubborn as a stump. And God knows he was an Elliott through and through.

Dad was lucky to have achieved a great deal in his life. It afforded the expression of another of his beloved characteristics…a deep belief in giving to others. The act of giving, being charitable, was in his mind a responsibility and a blessing both to the giver and the receiver. He gave, not just monetarily, but he gave in personal effort. Another way he loved to give was by giving a person the opportunity to experience something they otherwise would not have the opportunity to experience. It could be anything… a pool party, the opportunity to see the mountains, drive a car, go floundering, eat a special meal, you name it. He loved to share experiences with people. I could tell story after story of dad’s willingness to give to others. But we would be here all day.

He enjoyed traveling, seeing this beautiful country. Nothing spoke to him more than the mountains. He and Mom were lucky to get to spend 10 years in Colorado. There again he had to build something, so, up came a mountain retreat surrounded by aspen trees. In those 10 years, he made up for the many years of hard work and no time off. His hard work ethic turned into playing hard, and having fun. Mom and Dad always say it was the best years of their lives.

Kenneth hunting in Colorado

Later in life, Dad became a teller of stories and someone who never met a stranger. Owning a restaurant was his social hour. I don’t think the restaurant ever made a penny but he sure did have fun talking to all the patrons who came to have lunch “at his house.” And that’s how he looked at it… he was having friends over for lunch or dinner. If he could have afforded it, he would have let everyone eat for free just to have them enjoy his house and mother’s recipes.

People think it was my mom who loved to entertain, cook for others, have parties for every occasion and any reason, and she did like doing this, but dad was right behind her wanting to entertain. He got to do the entertaining, Mom did the cooking. It made for some great parties and fantastic food.

One thing I am sure of about, him is his absolute, unconditional, lasting love for my mom. I was blessed to be a child of parents who absolutely adored, loved, supported, and honored each other for 67 years!!! How they did it? Well, I have a story that also explained that to me.

Kenneth and Grady Jean Clark

One day mom was having a meltdown about nothing and I turned to Dad and said, “You spoiled her!” He turned to me with a grin and said, “ROTTEN!” His reason,” I never wanted to upset her.” Now, that’s a man many women wish they had!!

He never wanted upheaval. He had the patience of Job, the ability to not react to the drama in life, a great understanding of my mom’s needs, he loved her like no other. She was truly his only need on this earth. And he was everything to her. When it came to who they loved you might as well get used to being in second place because no one was more important. Total commitment, unwavering love, acceptance, respect and a lot of patience, I think that’s how they did it.

He was fortunate to have 93 years on this earth. And as his time to go came near he was ready, almost anxious to go! Weeks before he died, he told me over and over “Call the undertaker”. After hearing this for the 40th time I asked him, “Why are you in such a hurry”. He replied, “I’m ready to get on with it.” No fear, no unfinished business, just peace and a deep belief that he was finished here and ready to be in heaven.

I think if Dad was here and wanted to leave parting words it would go something like this: “Commit wholeheartedly to what you believe in, love deeply, give of yourself, take time to have fun, and eat lots of shrimp.”

So, who was my father to me?
Simply put, all he had hoped to be…A Good Man

Kenneth Elliott Clark, 93 of Port O’Connor, passed from this earth, Thursday, November 25, 2021, at home surrounded by his loving family, in Calhoun County.
Family and friends gathered Thursday, December 2nd at First Baptist Church in Port O’Connor. By request of Kenneth, a “Going Home Party and Luncheon” followed the funeral service at the Port O’Connor Community Center. Burial was held later, privately. Honoring Kenneth’s memory pallbearers were Henry Anderson, Collin Anderson, Tyler Anderson, Richard Kenneth Clark, William Ragusin, Jr., and John Humbert.

Some of Kenneth’s dearest and closest friends that he requested be recognized and honored for their devoted friendships over the years are Robert and Margaret Clegg, Rupert and Irene Sorrow, John and Kathy Yearwood and Kenneth’s most highly regarded friend William A. “Billy” Ragusin and his wife, Margaret.
Kenneth was born, September 25, 1928, in Galveston, Texas to the late Homer P. and Mary E. Clark. His family moved to Port O’Connor (POC) in 1935. Kenneth was a resident of POC for over 86 years.

Kenneth attended high school at San Marcos Academy and later Tarleton State University in Stephenville. Kenneth proudly served his country in the United States Army; he was stationed in Germany. After returning from overseas, he began working with his father running Clark’s Seafood. The business employed many POC residents through the years. On December 30th, 1955, Kenneth married Grady Jean Malone.

Kenneth was a founding member of First Baptist Church Port O’Connor. He and Grady Jean were very active in the church and the POC community. Kenneth loved entertaining others and coordinating parties and get togethers. Kenneth had a servant’s heart and it truly showed in all that he did for the POC community. He served on various boards over the years and always made sure that the POC area was taken care of.

Kenneth was an honest, kind, generous man who was universally loved by all who knew him. He was very personable and talkative; he greeted every person with a smile and a warm hello. Kenneth just had a way of making sure that those whom he met walked away feeling as though they had made a new friend. The joy of it was, they had.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Homer P. and Mary E. Clark; his sisters, Clatie Eleanor Clark and Billie Joyce Clark Jetty.

Kenneth is survived by his loving and devoted wife of over 66 years, Grady Jean; his children, Henry and his wife, Judy, Kimberly and Stephen; grandsons, Collin and Tyler; along with numerous other loving family members and friends, and his faithful, loving dog “Hobo”.

The family would like to offer a special acknowledgement and special thank you to ALL his caregivers, especially Josephine Gonzales, Cindy Hanson, and his primary caregiver, his daughter, registered nurse, Kimberly, who cared for him every day during his lengthy illness. Additionally, a special thank you to the Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department, who quickly came to assist many times over the past eight years.

Grady Jean and the entire Clark family thank our community and friends during this time of sorrow and appreciate their participation in Kenneth’s farewell dinner.

The Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department would like to give a heartfelt thank you to the Jay & Barbara Lack family for their generous donation to our department. With this donation, our department was able to purchase new rescue tools, vehicle stabilization jacks, and a new thermal imaging camera. This new equipment will help us continue to provide fire and rescue services to our community.