09/30/2025
Donald Lee Clark
Donald Lee Clark, also known as The Painter Man, The Deer Slayer, Dad, and most importantly, Grandpa, was born on December 25, 1955, in Longview, Texas, to the parents Robert Earl Clark Sr. and Mary L. Clark. Donnie passed away on September 24, 2025, in Minden, Louisiana, at the age of 69, just minutes after saying the Lord’s Prayer with his older brother Robert Earl Clark Jr.
Donnie was united in marriage to Linda Gayle Clark, and together they shared 44 years. Donnie was a proud father, grandpa, and great grandpa to not only his grandchildren but also any child he came across, he was known as grandpa. Donnie is survived by his two daughters and their families: Dawn Michelle Clark Tillman and husband Dustin, Crystal Nichole Clark Greer and husband Eric. Donnie always would tell people God didn’t give him any sons, but he did give him a Madison. Donnie’s greatest accomplishment was being a grandpa to Madison Alayne Clark Chase and husband Josh, Brittney Cain Tillman, Kourtney Paige Langenberg Ross and husband Dee, Robert Gregory Greer and wife Jasmine, Rainie Nichole Greer Knighten and husband Cody, Eric Riley Greer, and being a great grandpa to Ryan Wade Atkins, Amelia Kate Atkins, Maddox J Ross, Damon Jayce Ross, Marley Jane Ross, Lucy, Gage, Sophia Greer, Wyatt Lane McGee, Sawyer James Greer, Carson Joe Knighten. Donnie is survived by his twin sister Debbie Clark Pritchard and husband Michael, his oldest brother Robert Earl Clark Jr., and their families.
Donnie is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Earl Clark Sr. and Mary L. Clark; his older brother, James Richard Clark; his sister, Theresa Catherine Clark Marsala; and his best friend, Leslie “Nutria Man” Cortez.
Throughout his life, Donnie was the owner and contractor for Donald Clark Painting, which he built from the ground up in 1980 at the age of 25. He ran this well-known and respected painting business for the next 44 years. During these years, Donnie was even featured in the Professional Painting Contractor magazine in the 2000s spring edition. The Sherwin Williams Company in Cleveland, Ohio, also featured him on a nationwide postcard for their advertising. Donnie was a member of the Home Builders’ Association of Northeast Louisiana, which is affiliated with the Louisiana Home Builders’ Association and the National Association of Home Builders. Donnie leaves a legacy of service and commitment to others.
Beyond his work, Donnie had a deep passion for deer hunting, where he racked up enough trophy deer mounts to fill the walls of his man cave, including the once in a lifetime size twelve-point buck. The man had enough guns you could shake a stick at, but his legendary rifle was a 7mm mag with a bull barrel he nicknamed Dr. Death. You could hear ringing through the woods when he shot, but what truly made the rifle so special to Donnie was that multiple of his grandchildren had killed their first deer with it, and with him right there with his first great grandson Ryan being the last one of that tradition. Last year’s hunting season, and the last one Donnie had, he and Ryan killed an 8-point buck on the DLC hunting club he cherished for 25 years. Donnie was a fisherman, with Lake Saint John being his favorite place to spend weekends fishing and camping with his family. Donnie had an incredible green thumb, and he grew three huge gardens every year filled with every vegetable you could imagine. He enjoyed gardening with his family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Many summers he’d fill trailers up with vegetables and watermelon to park on the corner and pile a few grandkids on them to sell during the summer days and end the day swimming at D’Arbonne spillway. Donnie lived, breathed, and I even think bled LSU and West Monroe high school football. He was such a diehard fan you could catch him with his headset on in the deer stand, then with his truck doors open listening to the game on the radio.
Family and friends will remember Donnie by his gift to talk the paint off the walls and his ability to never meet a stranger. His wisdom he’d share with you even when you didn’t ask for it. Donnie’s humor was one of his greatest qualities that would make you belly laugh and even roll your eyes, but you couldn’t help but smile at him. His humor went hand in hand with his storytelling or his wisdom filled punchlines. His humor always seemed to make him the life of the party or at least in Donnie Clark’s mind. The man had the luck of 10 men. He won the lottery, won contests, and was able to walk to a field of clovers and pick the lucky four-leaf clover every time, and one time I watched him pick 3 when I couldn’t find a single one. His bald head was full of knowledge that helped him shape the lives of his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and anyone who would let him bend their ear.
He was the man, the myth, and the deer slayer legend who will forever live on through all the people he loved and shaped in his 69 years of life, and if you knew Donnie Clark very well, then you’d know he died at the age of his favorite number. His punchline clearly not mine.
I’ll forever be grateful for all the years we were best friends - Madison Alayne Clark Chase
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