BAKER CITY HERALD • SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2022 A3
LOCAL
Clark
A tribute to Jerry and Donna Goodwin
Continued from Page A1
Why white jackets, in a job
where grease and oil are ingre-
dients as essential as flour and
butter are to a baker?
Donna, 88, just laughs.
“I don’t know, with that kind
of work,” she said. “You couldn’t
get that kind of dirt out.”
The origin of the jacket, if not
its color, Donna can explain.
Jerry’s connection to Clark
Auto Electric actually spans
well over half a century.
(Jerry, 86, whose health has
diminished in recent months,
lives at Memory Lane Care
Homes in Baker City.)
In the summer of 1956, Jerry,
then 21, started working for
Harold Clark. Harold’s father,
Charlie Clark, started the busi-
ness in 1930, living upstairs
while running the shop below.
Harold Clark and his me-
chanics wore blue jackets,
Donna said.
Uniforms, she said, were
commonplace in many types of
businesses in that era.
Attendants at service stations
— when they actually provided
many services, such as wash-
ing your window and checking
your oil — wore uniforms.
Donna said her husband
liked the jackets — “anything
to keep their clothes clean,”
she said — and he maintained
that tradition after the Good-
wins bought Clark Auto Elec-
tric from Harold Clark on
July 1, 1972.
“When he latches onto
something he never lets go,”
Donna said of her husband.
She said they never con-
sidered doing anything else
— not after buying an estab-
lished business where Jerry
already had 16 years of expe-
rience by 1972.
But with Jerry’s health dete-
riorating over the past several
months, Donna said there was
no option but to sell Clark
Auto Electric.
They hope to soon finalize
the transfer of a business that
was, as the Goodwins’ daugh-
ter, Marie Guy, puts it, “part of
the family.”
When it’s suggested that the
repair shop, at the corner of
Resort Street and Auburn Ave-
nue, was something of a second
home for the couple, Donna
shakes her head and smiles.
“More like a first home.”
Editor’s Note: This was written by Parker and Dalton Guy, two of the
Goodwins’ grandsons.
Jayson Jacoby/Baker City Herald
Marie Guy, right, and her husband, Kevin, laugh while reminiscing at Clark Auto Electric on April 14, 2022.
Marie is one of the three daughters of the business’ longtime owners, Jerry and Donna Goodwin.
to the shop at noon, work until
5 or so, return home for dinner
and then drive back to put in
another five hours or so getting
somebody’s rig running.
The schedule might sound
grueling, if not inconceivable,
to anyone who hasn’t devoted
themselves to their business,
their livelihood.
But Donna just shrugs at
the idea that there was any-
thing unusual.
“When you’ve got a small
business you’ve got to work
together or you don’t make
it,” she said. “I was with him
most of the time. I liked being
with him.”
Marie said her parents have
always been a team.
“It wasn’t just dad,” she said,
looking at her mom. “It was
you and dad.”
After 50 years of owning Clark Auto Electric, Jerry and Donna
Goodwin have made the decision to close shop. Later this spring
Clark Auto will change ownership and the Goodwins will leave a leg-
acy of hard work, exceptional customer service and a building that
will add to the historic nostalgia of Baker City.
On the corner of Resort Street and Auburn Avenue, Clark Auto
Electric became the staple brick building back in 1930. Charlie Clark,
while living upstairs, owned and operated the local shop, later selling
to his son Harold in 1956. That summer, our grandfather Jerry Good-
win, at the age of 21, started his career in the automative industry.
It was in 1972 that Jerry and Donna Goodwin bought the business
from Harold Clark, keeping its name and furthering its history.
With a half century’s time comes too many memories to keep
track of, as well as too many people to give the proper thank you to.
With that, Jerry and Donna would like to thank the community of
Baker City and Baker County and their vendors over the years. Their
loyal customers from 1972 to present can’t be thanked enough. All of
you were devoted and dedicated customers. You all kept Jerry busy
and Donna even busier taking care of Jerry! Our family can’t thank
you enough for your longtime business and support.
To the employees over the years: Thank you for all you’ve done. It
takes a team to build a successful legacy and without the employees of
Clark Auto over the years the continued success would not have been
possible. Thank you to everyone for all you’ve done over the years!
The memories, the laughs and the relationships, those will never
leave that historic building. Fifty years is a long time and it’s an amaz-
ing accomplishment to have owned and operated a business for
that long. Kudos to you, Grandpa and Grandma. Both of you did an
amazing job keeping Charlie Clark’s historic building and passion up
and running for so many years. On behalf of the three daughters and
their families, we would like to congratulate you on everything that
you two have accomplished together. We love you guys!
The iconic Carter Carburetor Repairs neon sign might not light up
ever again but the legacy and nostalgia on the corner of Resort and
Auburn will always shine bright.
Spurred by Hansen, who
is standing behind the front
counter of the business, an-
other area untainted by any-
Jayson Jacoby/Baker City Herald
thing containing a hard drive,
Donna Goodwin looks at one of the jackets that her husband, Jerry,
Schuh tells one of Jerry’s more
memorable tales over half a
wore during the 50 years the couple has owned Clark Auto Electric.
century of fixing cars.
Schuh didn’t know exactly
never seriously considered do-
For a mechanic whose jobs
when it happened.
ing anything else.
frequently involve splicing
“Maybe 20 or 30 years ago,
The couple were happy to
wires with various colors of in-
A lifetime’s worth of knowledge maybe longer,” was the best he
sulation, that condition can be raise their three daughters —
could offer.
‘He couldn’t say no’
Marie, Gail, who lives in Wil-
troublesome.
and expertise
The details, though, he re-
The stories are legion of
Ken Schuh of Baker City is
Donna said it wasn’t uncom- sonville and has two sons, and
Jerry Goodwin rescuing driv-
one of the Goodwins’ longtime calls with precision, having
mon for Jerry to call for her — Linda, who has passed away.
ers stranded by a mechanical
customers.
heard the story more than once.
sometimes when she was in the The Goodwins were faithful
malady.
Schuh, who dropped by
Jerry was working well after
spectators at Baker High School
office, occasionally when she
He never advertised, beyond was home — to confirm which basketball games, although
Clark Auto Electric on Thurs- midnight, repairing a commer-
having his number and address wire was, say, red.
cial truck.
Jerry was called away once in a day, April 14, as Donna was
in the phone book.
reminiscing about the past half
When he finished, some-
while to fix somebody’s car.
More recently, Donna said
Yet travelers who couldn’t
century, said he bought the
where around 3 a.m., he
The work, Donna said, was
Jerry Hansen, who has worked
locate Baker City on a map
paint for his first 1957 Chevro- handed the truck driver the bill.
rewarding.
at Clark Auto Electric for sev-
seemed always to find their way eral years, has been a great help
let from Jerry.
The driver went outside and
Not that Jerry ever sought
to Clark Auto Electric.
“He had the skill,” Schuh
jumped in his truck. He re-
any recognition.
as the Goodwins prepared to
No matter if it was midday or sell the business.
said. “We’re losing so much ex- turned with a pistol in his hand.
“Jerry is a very humble per-
midnight.
Jerry, thinking a robbery was
son,” she said. “He’s not a talker.” perience. To watch him work.
“When people needed help
A marriage of nearly 70 years
Still and all, Donna said she ...” and here Schuh’s voice trails afoot, was frightened.
he just couldn’t say no,” Donna
Donna, who grew up near
But the driver quickly allayed
has treasured the conversations off, as if he can’t summon the
said. “I can’t say how many
Medical Springs, first noticed
words to describe Jerry’s ability his fear.
she’s had recently with long-
times he was out after dark on Jerry Goodwin when they were time customers, some of whom, to diagnose and fix all manner
See, Clark/Page A5
some highway, under a car.”
assigned to the same physics
of automotive ailments.
she said, were nearly brought
“That was just dad,” Marie class at Baker High School.
Part of the family
said. “He is all about customer
She was a year ahead, gradu-
Donna sits in the office, near service.”
ating in 1952.
the southwest corner of the
Which meant a smile.
“He liked older women,”
building, where she has spent
Always.
Donna said with a smile.
so many thousands of hours.
“He said always put on a
Jerry’s first job was with
She watches a few desultory smile for a customer,” Marie
Kirkpatrick Motors, a Chevro-
spring snowflakes float past
said.
let dealership in Baker City.
on the morning of Thursday,
Given the stability of their
He took the job with Clark
April 14.
business, it’s not surprising that Auto Electric two days before
Marie, who is standing
Clark Auto Electric had several he turned 21.
nearby with her husband,
employees who worked for the
“The rest is history,” Donna
Kevin, gestures to the traffic
Goodwins for a goodly portion said.
rolling past on Main Street.
of the time they owned it.
The couple were married
That, she recalls, was part
Clayton Young’s tenure was
that same year, 1956.
of “The Gut.” She remem-
35 years, Donna said, and there
Jerry was a well-established
bers slinking down in her seat
were a few others who stayed
employee by 1972, when Har-
as her parents participated in
for 20 years or so.
old Clark sought to sell Clark
that great Friday night ritual of
The business generally had
Auto Electric.
small towns, her dad driving
no more than five mechanics
Donna said that although
and her mom beside him, shar- on staff, Donna said.
Jerry “was the logical one” to
ing a bottle of soda pop.
“Six, counting me,” she said. take over the business, the cou-
Donna laughs, as though
ple had to ponder the decision.
Although Donna didn’t
she’s surprised that her
“We had to sleep on that
wield wrenches, she did often
daughter would divulge that play a vital role in her hus-
one,” she said.
particular story among so
Once they actually owned
band’s repairs.
many others.
the business, though, they
Jerry is color blind.
“Now it all comes out,”
Donna said.
It’s a small space, this office,
Roberta Jo Borders (Lee)
maybe eight feet by five.
July 19, 1959 - March 25, 2022
The desks are littered with
papers — receipts, bills, in-
Robbie was born July 19,
voices.
1959, in Sandpoint, Idaho, to
Conspicuous by its absence
her parents Robert and Buddy
is a computer.
Lee. She was the second
Donna, who has kept the
born of five kids (Daphne,
books for Clark Auto Elec-
Robert, Charla and Rebecca).
tric for half a century, doesn’t
The family moved around
use one.
throughout their childhood
Never has.
but settled down in Warren,
“You can see my computer
Oregon, where she went on
system,” she says with a grin as
to graduated from Scappoose
she sweeps a hand across the
High School in 1977. While
top of the desk.
off in the world shining her
Donna learned to keep the
light everywhere, she met and married Steve Fenter
accounts from Harold Clark.
in 1985. They found their home in Columbia City,
In 50 years she’s never devi-
Oregon. Together they had two beautiful children,
ated from the system he taught
Breanne (Fenter) Rosen and Thomas Fenter, while also
her.
having the pleasure of raising her stepdaughter, Christy
Nor did she ever contem-
plate, say, remodeling the of-
Fenter. Robbie then moved on to receive her associate’s
fice.
in science degree from Portland Community College.
“It hasn’t changed a bit,”
She went on to get remarried to Bob Borders in 1996.
Donna said. “I just love that. If
Robbie had continued her journey with God and took
it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
any path he led her which he eventually led her to the
That constancy, that adher-
Schedule online, anytime.
small town of Baker City, Oregon.
ence to the ways that work and
Robbie always had a love for children and her hands
continue to work no matter
in substitution, children’s ministry, special education,
the miracles that technology
and lastly becoming an elementary school teacher at
promises, permeates the Good-
Harvest Christian Academy. She continued on in life
wins’ story.
sharing her light, her love for God, music, dancing,
Marie, who owns a nursery
and thrill seeking (skydiving on 56th birthday). Robbie
near Gaston, south of Portland,
became a grandmother, rather known as Ma-Maw! Abel
with Kevin and their sons,
Rosen was born in 2013 and became her pride and joy!
Parker and Dalton, remembers
She loved reading, playing piano, and having Nerf gun
that her dad’s routine was as re-
wars with Abel as well as going to the beach. Robbie
liable as the finest Swiss watch.
will always be remembered for her shining light and
He came home for lunch
that beautiful smile she always had on her face. This
at 11:30 — the squeal of his
beautiful, and free angel is now dancing in the sky and
brakes announcing his arrival.
will be deeply missed by many!
After lunch he’d head back
to tears when they learned the
Goodwins are selling Clark
Auto Electric.
Some left with a memento —
a white jacket or an old part.
Marie said one customer
planned to frame a receipt.
“It makes me feel good hear-
ing that people think so much
of him,” Donna said. “It’s nice.”
Old, young, rich, poor.
Born here, just got here.
Our calling is you.