James "Piggy" Clark

James Russell "Piggy" Clark, age 91, of West, passed away peacefully Tuesday afternoon at his home, May 14, 2024 in West.

Funeral Service will be held 10:oo a.m. Saturday May 18, 2024, at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, with Rev. Robert McDougal officiating. Military Graveside Rites will follow at Bold Springs Cemetery in West, conducted by West Veterans Honor Guard. Piggy will lie-in-state from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Piggy was born May 14, 1933 in West, the son of Franklin and Mallie (Clark) Clark. He was a 1951 graduate of West High School, where he excelled in football, basketball and was on the very first West High School baseball team, and served as Junior and Senior Class President. After high school he proudly served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. While in the Navy he served as an aviation machinist aboard the USS Chourre in Korea and Japan. He was honorably discharged from the Navy after 4 years, and then attended Navarro Junior College where he played football. Piggy then attended the University of Houston where he majored in accounting and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 1961. He then attended the University of Houston Law School from 1963 to 1967. Piggy was licensed by the State Bar of Texas in 1967 and practiced law in Houston for 47 years. He worked full time and went to night school three nights a week for 9 years to earn his law license. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1967 and practiced law before the Supreme Court of the United States and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Piggy was united in marriage to Martha Jo Starnes on May 12, 1953 and had two sons, James Franklin and John David. On March 2, 2003 he was united in marriage to Christie (Clark) Clark. In May of 2010 he and his wife Christie moved back to his hometown of West.

Piggy was a member of the Houston Alumni Association, Bauer College of Business Alumni Association, University of Houston Law Center Alumni Association, Cougar Pride Association, the American Legion Post #478, and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4819. Piggy enjoyed reading, watching college football, baseball, and looked forward to March Madness every year. Piggy cherished "Wine Night" with his buddy, Donna Beckham where they never missed getting together every week for 8 years.

Piggy is also preceded in death by his parents, a son, James F. Clark, a brother, Billy J. "Chili" Clark, and his sisters, Dorothy Adkins and Montez Clark.

Survivors include his son, John David Clark of Austin; and a grandson, Mason Clark of Washington DC.

Active pallbearers are Bruce Raschke, Donnie Kankle, Bobby Williams, Dave Barber, Clifford Archer, Tom Hutyra, Michael Warren, and John A. Clark.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Meals on Wheels and West Ambulance Association.