ForeverNear
Welcome to Forever Near .It is here where your love ones will always be close
Ashton MacDonald Clarke
Sunrise January 16th 1950
Sunset June 7th 2015
Ashton was born to the late Simeon Clarke better known as “Timothy” and of recent the late Belda better known as “Velda” Clarke on January 16 1950. He was raised by his aunt and grew up in Ellerton St. George and educated at St. Luke’s School. He had two brothers Trevor and Hal and three sisters Marcelle, Wendy and Ann
Ashton was your typical boy growing up, doing chores and playing games like cricket. I was made to understand that if he got out and had issues with the decision, then that would be the end of the game. In other words cricket done.
After leaving school he did some work in the fields working on the plough. It appears that part of his task was to walk several miles daily to fetch and deliver the lunch of the operator who would just eat everything without even asking if he wanted some. He told me that one day after fetching the operator’s lunch and on his way back to work, between the aroma coming from the bowl, not to mention that he was also real hungry, he decided that he would help himself to some. He found some shade under a tree and before you knew it, just like in the fairy tale, he had eaten everything and washed it down with the person’s mauby. I believe it was the last day on that job.
In 1972 he married to the late Vileta Clarke, that union produced two children Ashton Clarke Jr. and Ryan Clarke.
Ashton was a mason by profession, a skill which he would have acquired from his late father-in-law.
He would have also driven bus for a while with the then Elite bus company and also worked as a truck driver with C.O Williams. One of my highlights as a child was driving around with him and every now and then getting the opportunity to sit on his lap and steer. He could make an engine sing.
He was quite the handy man, there wasn’t any job around or on the house he couldn’t do. It could be carpentry, plumbing, electrical, roof work you name it he could do it, he was just good with his hands and had excellent troubleshooting skills.
Ashton was quite a jovial character and to know him was to love him. Don’t be fooled if he had to tell you something you would get it too. You could tell he liked center stage, his voice was the loudest, his jokes the funniest, and when it came to dressing he felt he was the hottest. It was just a few weeks ago when he would have attended a funeral of one of his buddies, that he would have remarked “that is my boy I gotta look good for him.”
He loved to interact, between him and my late uncle Glenston they would have thrown some of the biggest parties in the neighbourhood. Listening to music was one of his hobbies and it appeared that the stereo had only two volume positions, off and maximum. On Sundays he would play pre-recorded sermons of the late Bishop Granville Williams, so often were these played that I could have practically recited the messages from memory.
If there is one thing that can be said about him is that he loved his children and grandchildren and would do all in his power to meet a need even with scarce resources. When I was living in Walker’s he made it his business, to make his way up walkers road in the wee hours of the morning to begin his patrol around my home, making sure that all doors were secured and all that all was well for me and my family. He enjoyed looking after the kids and the kids sure enjoyed him. When it came to the grans, he delighted in taking them down to the shop, to call for whatever they wanted. He was extremely protective of all of us and made it clear to everyone.
He had quite a determined spirit and did not let circumstances or limited resources hinder him from achieving what he wanted. He was always full of plans and ideas, and from time to time he would run them by me. Even when I was skeptical, this could not deter him when his mind was made up.
Dad was extremely excited about his birthday this year. This birthday meant that the background picture of his ID was now red, this was a historic moment for him. He would now be boasting “I don’t have to pay a cent in bus fare”. Boy was he proud, he showed off that ID to everyone he came into contact with.
There was another side to Ashton, and even when he would appear quite tough there was a softer side, a side where I have often seen him shed tears. I can tell he had great difficulty dealing with loss. The first time I would have noticed this was as a young boy when my pet dog died and he cried. We would have shared many losses as a family, like my mum and others and he would have cried every time.
He wasn’t only my dad he was also my friend, I enjoyed just going by him and hanging out, watching a movie, joking around etc.
He was looking forward to his retirement and had great plans, but God had other plans and decided to call him home.
If there is one thing that I have learnt from his life it is this…..It doesn’t matter how much you acquire in this life but rather, how you impact lives. Dad had his fault but he was indeed a caring, loving man.
Today we say goodbye but take comfort in the knowledge that this separation is only temporary.
Rest in Peace Dad
Rest In Peace Rise In Glory