Willis Glenn “Fat” Shults, 79, of Cleveland, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at his home surrounded by his wife and sons. They took care of him for the past several months, but never left his side for the past two weeks. His wife, Rose Marie stayed by his side for the past six months.
He was a veteran of the United States National Guard. Fat was an owner/operator of Cleveland Beauty Supply Store and most recently Downtown Wig Studio. He started out at age 17 with his first business. His love for the funeral business was undeniable. He was a dedicated associate with Fike-Randolph and Son up until the time of his death and was part of that funeral home for over twenty years. Fat’s heart for people was demonstrated each and every day. He was so proud to have brought peace and comfort to countless number of people. Fat was a member of Cloverleaf Baptist Church and attended Waterville Baptist Church.
One of Fat’s passions was music. He was a very talented and dedicated musician having not only sung, but played in different bands or groups, such as The Covenants. Fat also served on the Bradley County Commission for eight years, two of which he also served as Judge Pro-Tem. He was a cut up and just a joy to be around. Fat will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph McKinley and Clara Messer Shults; infant twins, Marlon and Marilyn Shults; brother, R.L. Shults; special mother and father-in-law, Roscoe “Salty” and Elizabeth Reeser; and nephew, Bruce Shults.
Survivors include his precious and loving wife of almost 57 years, Rose Marie “His Little Rosie” Reeser Shults of Cleveland; his pride and joy, sons, Joseph “Josephus” Michael Shults of Cleveland and Tracy “Tater” Glenn Shults of Chattanooga; brothers, Ray Shults and wife, Jo of Cleveland and Mack Shults and wife, Audrey of Henderson, Kentucky; sister, Bernice Shults Keefe of Chattanooga; sisters-in-law, Ina Shults and Stella Reeser French; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and loving friends.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 25, in the chapel of Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home with his brother, the Reverend Mack Shults and the Reverend Ronnie Ledford officiating. Interment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with Jeff Shults, Dewayne Hicks, Gary Hicks, Doug Pirkle, Lewis Jones, David O’Neal, Ryan Qualls and Bob Horn serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Ed Sneed, Jim Gold and all his co-workers at Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home.
His family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, at the funeral home.
Fat’s family would like to thank all the nurses on the 3rd and 5th floor at Tennova Hospital and Mary Jane Bartolo and the staff at Hearth Hospice.
The family requests that memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tn. 38105.
We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Shults family guestbook at www.fikefh.com.