Clare Shotwell

Clare Austin Shotwell, age 85, of Greenville, passed away early Thursday morning, April 27, 2023 at his home under the loving care of his family and Spectrum Health Hospice following a brief illness. The son of Hoyt & Alice Marie (Kitchen) Shotwell, he was born on August 31, 1937 in Otisco Township near Belding. His father, Hoyt, died from acute appendicitis when Clare was just six months old and after his mother remarried in 1938, he gained a second father, Norris Leonard Jury. Clare began his nearly 40 year career with the Federal-Mogul Corporation as a hourly employee, later moving into a supervisory position, and retiring from the engineering department in 1994. For many years, he also owned and operated Shotwell's Western Store. A lifelong outsdoorsman, Clare enjoyed hunting and fishing, riding motorcycles (especially his Harley-Davidson's), was an excellent dancer, and will long be remembered as the "rock" of his family. He was a long-time member of the Sons of the American Legion at the Ray I. Booth American Legion Post 101 in Greenville, where he was a founding member of the American Legion Riders chapter, and had also been a member of the Moose and Eagles lodges. He was preceded in death by his father, Hoyt Shotwell in 1937; his step-father, N. Leonard Jury in 2001; his mother, Marie Jury in 2015; a brother, Duane Shotwell; and two sisters, Karen Hart-Pringle and Caroline Ann Zeigler. Surviving are his two children, Beth Ann Shotwell of Canadian Lake, and Steven & Linda Shotwell of Langston; three grandchildren, Rachelle & Josh Croy, Austin & Anna Shotwell, all of Greenville, and Kirby Shotwell of Byron Center; four great-grandchildren, Rylie Croy, Jaxson Croy, Wyatt Shotwell, and Quinn Shotwell; a great-great granddaughter, Blakely Clare Croy; a brother and sister-in-law, Eugene & Vickie Jury, of Greenville; a sister and two brothers-in-law, Charlene & Scott Feehan of New Philadelphia, Ohio and Tom Pringle of Greenville; his "lady friend" and companion, Becky Lord of Greenville; and many, many nieces, nephews, and friends. Clare's family invites relatives and friends to join them in celebrating his life from 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at the Ray I. Booth American Legion Post No. 101, 1320 W. Washington Street, Greenville. Food and drink will be provided and you are asked to bring your favorite story about Clare. Instead of flowers, Clare would have appreciated contributions in his memory to either the Sons of the American Legion or the American Legion Riders. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clare Shotwell, please visit our flower store.