Jean Edward Shotts Jr.

Jean Edward Shotts, Jr., 54, of Stamford and Lubbock passed into Eternal Life on February 21, 2011. Jean was born on June 30, 1956 at Alconbury AFB, Cambridgeshire, England to Jean Edward Shotts, Sr. and Elizabeth Mitchell Shotts. He lived his early years in Texas and Arkansas before his family settled in San Angelo, Texas in 1969. Jean attended San Angelo Central High School and enjoyed singing in the Chorale and scouting. After graduation in 1975, he was selected to perform with the musical production “Texas” in Palo Duro Canyon. His second year with “Texas” he met the absolute love of his life, Cloetta Fullbright Benge, and they married on May 13, 1977. Jean graduated from Texas Tech University in 1978 and received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech School of Law in 1981. He began a law career that spanned 30 years, with a concentration in municipal law, and he was the senior partner of Shotts Trevino & Guevara, serving over 40 West Texas communities with integrity and commitment.
Jean lived his life with great enthusiasm, enjoying eclectic interests from sailing to symphonies, quantum mechanics to solar science and genealogy to wild pig hunting. He loved to sing in church with his wife, Cloetta, and their last duet was “It Is Well With My Soul.”
Besides his beloved wife, Jean is survived by his mother and step-father, Elizabeth and Milton Beach of Virginia Beach, VA. and his five children and their spouses, Heath and Jana Shotts, Britton and Amber Shotts, Martin and Amanda Shotts, Kaeden Claire Shotts, and George Christian Shotts, and by eight grandchildren: Kimberly, Zach, Jadelyn, Taylor, Tate, Aiden, Peyton and Ryan Shotts. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Virginia and Stan Cole of McKinney, and his brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Teresa Shotts of Shallowater. His nieces, Aaron and Kaley Shotts, his favorite aunt and uncle, Virginia and Billy Brand, of Prairie, MS and his in-laws Orville and Malolah Fullbright of Amarillo. He was preceded in death by his father, Lt. Col. (ret) Jean E. Shotts in 2007.
The family will receive visitors on Thursday, February 24th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Tankersley Funeral Home, 807 S. Columbia in Stamford. After a private graveside service, Jean’s life will be celebrated at a Memorial Service on Friday, February 25th at 1:00 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church, 10625 N. FM 600, Avoca, TX 79503. Pallbearers are: James Smith, Mike Guevara, Robert Smith, Don Heller, Don Vandiver, Johnny Anders, Leldon Clifton and Bobby Suitor. Memorials may be made to: Bethel Lutheran Church at the above address. The family wishes to thank the dedicated doctors and nurses of Cardiac ICU at Texas Tech’s University Medical Center for the amazing care he received this past week.