Benjamin David Clarke

Benjamin David Clarke, our beloved son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew and cousin, passed from this life on Sept 11, 2014 in Brighton, Massachusetts. He was born the son of Derrel W and Eileen Hill Clarke on March 2, 1983 in Gainesville, Florida. Ben began his life and early schooling in Gainesville, and later in Missouri City, Texas. He had a thirst for learning, loved books and had remarkable memory retention. He also attended school for a short time in Newport, Oregon before locating with his family in Logan, Utah where he finished his lower grades and graduated from Logan High School in 2001.
Benjamin attended USU graduating in English Literature. He served a LDS Mission in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mission. He then went on to earn his master’s degree in biblical studies at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California. He was currently in his third year of his PhD program in English Literature at Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts.
Ben’s life was a gift to our family which we got to treasure for 31 years. He was a peacemaker with a soft heart, a sensitivity to those less fortunate, a great sense of humor and quick wit. His thirst for learning and love of reading were unparalleled as were his vocabulary skills. He loved a good joke, football, gourmet food and his friends. He was the family go-to proof reader, as we all revered his brilliant mind and command of the English language. He spoke and read seven different languages. Whether he was composing music or writing papers he always pushed for perfection and excelled. He will be greatly missed, but our memories of him will be cherished forever.
Ben is survived by his parents and brothers and sisters: Kaythryn (Jeffrey) Gabriel, Stephen A. Clarke, Michael H. (Lynsi) Clarke and Karina Clarke. Also surviving him are his grandmother, Elanore L Clarke and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
A viewing will be held from 6-8 pm on Wednesday, September 17 at the Allen Mortuary of North Logan, 420 East 1800 North in North Logan. Funeral Services will be at 12 noon on Thursday, September 18 at the Foothill Second Ward, 1450 E 1500 N in Logan, Utah. Interment will follow at the Logan City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund.