Alfred Clark

  Alfred “Neil” Clark, age 59, of Lynden, passed unexpectedly at his family home on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. He was born on Jan. 14, 1956, in Brawley, California, to Henry H. and Natalie J. (Buck) Clark.
  As a young boy he moved with his family around the country, but eventually found his home in Whatcom County when his family moved to Blaine. Neil graduated from Blaine High School in 1974. After high school, Neil served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Washington, D.C., and later attended Skagit Valley College and Stevens Henager College where he received his associate degree. When he was finished with school, Neil moved to Utah and began his career in law enforcement as an officer for the Roy City Police Department and later served as a Border Patrol agent. In his time with the Border Patrol, Neil was initially stationed in Brownfield, California, and was later transferred back to Blaine. While stationed in Blaine, Neil met the love of his life, Ingrid Sanne. On Dec. 15, 1990, Neil and Ingrid were married in New Westminster, B.C. They welcomed a beautiful daughter, Elysia Kaye, to their lives on March 4, 1992, and she was the light of their lives.
  In 1996, Neil transitioned from the Border Patrol to Immigration and Naturalization Services and moved his family to Honolulu, Hawaii, and later to El Centro, California. In 2002, Neil joined the Department of Homeland Security with a move to Stafford, Virginia. In 2004, Neil took the opportunity to come home with a transfer to the Tukwila office. This transfer allowed him to move his family back to Lynden and Whatcom County where home had always been to them. Neil retired from his civil service in 2010, but still felt he had contributions to make and took a job with GEO as the warden of Adelanto Detention Center in Adelanto, California. In 2014, Neil’s expertise was called upon by SERCO where he was employed for the remainder of his life. Golf and working on the family farm were Neil’s favorite pastimes.
  Neil’s greatest love was for his family, especially his wife and daughter, whom he would do anything for. He took great pride in his work and the opportunities it provided his family, particularly Elysia, in the years to come.
  Neil was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ingrid; sisters Corby Johnson and Faye Baltazar; his parents; and father-in-law Karl Sanne.
  Neil is survived by his daughter, Elysia Kaye; brothers Lowell (Garna) Clark and Paul (Cindy) Clark; brother-in-law Lloyd (Corby) Johnson; sister-in-law Karen (Bill) Warwick; mother-in-law Patricia Sanne; 11 nieces and seven nephews.
  A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, in Gillies Funeral Home Chapel.
  You are invited to share your memories and condolences in the online guest book at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
  Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.