Clarke Orr

Clarke Putnam “Pappy” Orr, 95, died Wednesday, March 4, 2015 in Abilene, Texas at his residence. The son of Nancy Emaline (Clarke) and Porter B. Orr, M.D., Clarke was born on January 8, 1920 in Asheville, North Carolina. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 1937. He attended Mars Hill College near Asheville for two years. In 1939 he moved to Abilene to attend Hardin-Simmons University from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry in 1941. On March 8, 1942, he married Fairy Beam whom he had met in chemistry lab at HSU. His first job was with Virginia Smelting Co.in Portsmouth, VA. He served in the U.S. Army 1944 to 1946, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. As a part of The Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Clarke was involved in the building of the first atomic bomb during World War II. He was a part of the Y-12 unit there where they produced enriched uranium. Following his military service, Clarke first worked in the petroleum industry for Lane-Wells Co., an oil field service company, and Go International, a geological service company. Clarke then taught earth science at Mann Junior High School in Abilene for 17 years. He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Abilene. He and Fairy worked together for many years in the nursery area of the church. He also was a devoted supporter of Hardin-Simmons University and was a regular fixture at many sporting events on campus. Clarke will be remembered as a gentle man who truly felt a duty to serve others. Whether as a teacher of teen-agers or as an eighty-year-old volunteer providing comfort for those who were hospitalized, his sense of compassion for his fellow humans never diminished. Even as he experienced his own physical maladies, he was always conscious that someone else suffered more than he. His grandchildren and great grandchildren loved and enjoyed their “Pappy”, and he frequently laughed at their antics despite the protests of their parents. His children were blessed with a father who loved them, laughed at their jokes and stunts, and was supportive of their endeavors. Clarke was preceded in death on October 24, 1998, by Fairy Beam Orr, whom he married on March 8, 1942. His parents; two brothers, Bynum Orr and P. B. Orr, and two sisters, Ava Keener and Sarah Orr, also preceded him in death. Clarke is survived by his son, John Clarke Orr and wife Lisa Reed of Portland, Oregon; two daughters, Suzanne Campbell and husband Hugh of San Angelo, Texas, and Elizabeth “Betsy” Price of Ranger, Texas; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three nephews and one niece. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 10, in Colony Hill Cemetery with Palmer McCown officiating, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 9, at the funeral home. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, in The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel officiated by Bynum Orr. Serving as pallbearers will be Josh Price, Freddy Hillin, Kevin Johnson, Ron Ballard, Bailey Price, Chandler Wood, Brady Moore, Brody Moore and Parker Price. Memorial contributions may be sent in memory of Clarke Orr to The Clarke P. Orr Endowed Scholarship in Chemistry at Hardin Simmons University, P.O. Box 16100, Abilene TX 79698, or The Potosi Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 6988 Abilene, TX 79608.