John’s grandfather in Northern Ireland was the definition of a local legend. Granda Herbie was a business owner, a motorcycle racer, a boxer, and a community fixture by all accounts with a VERY wild side. Extremely intelligent, in his youth Samuel Herbert Clarke was accepted to the exclusive Royal School at Armagh, which recruited gifted students from every corner of the globe. Every account that we’ve heard of the man has been delivered with equal measures of reverence and passion. Just about every time that we go back, someone pulls us aside and starts a great story with, “Did I ever tell ye about the time that your Granda Herbie...” He was a good-hearted man with the noblest of characters. When John’s Grandma Phoebe developed dementia, Herbie watched her until the end, sometimes following her into the road at night when she forgot where she was, unclothed. He never abandoned her, no matter the sleep lost. Long ago we determined that if we were ever blessed with a son, we would honor that great man and his life with a precious new life in the same name, and that with God’s help, we would do our best to instill the same noble character into this tiny new vessel. God is so faithful. Samuel Herbert Clarke 05/05/2022 01:15am 7lbs 14oz, 22inches long This Mothers Day is so special to us. We are eternally grateful to every one of you who has prayed for us. @thejohnclarke 2nd photo @denisebovee_avalos Midwife @lindseymeehleis