Shurley Wilsie

Shurley L. Wilsie, age 88, passed away Saturday, August 27, 2011 at the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility, following a lingering illness. He was born in Vassar on April 29, 1923, the son of the late F. Sheldon & Beatrice (Kelly) Wilsie. He graduated from Caro High School with the class of 1941, continued his education at Michigan Agricultural College for the next two years before enlisting in the Army for active duty on July 10, 1943. He volunteered to help set up the 7th Armys 115 General Hospital, serving as a surgical orthopedic specialist with that hospital in England, France and Germany. He was discharged as a Staff Sergeant on April 26, 1946. On April 28, 1946, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army Reserves and continued to serve until 1953. He was united in marriage with the former Sharlie VanWinkle on July 6, 1946 in Caro. In 1948, Shurley, with his father, Sheldon and uncle Cecil Kelly, formed the Wilsie-Kelly Chevrolet Company. In 1970 Shurley and his brother-in-law, Robert Simpson bought out Sheldon, adding the Oldsmobile line to the franchise. In 1979 they sold the dealership to Serra Chevrolet and later in 1983 to Pat Curtis. Shurley worked at the dealership from the time of the first sale in 1979 until 1988 when he retired. Shurley was a member of the Caro United Methodist Church and a variety of other organizations that included a life membership with the Caro American Legion Post #7, the Lions Club, Caro Development Corporation, Executive Board Member of the Lake Huron Area Boy Scouts Council, Executive Study Committee to build Caro Community Hospital, Tuscola County Conservation Club, NRA, National Woodcarvers Association, the Caro Mt. Moriah Lodge #226 F & AM, the Caro Chapter #96 RAM as well as serving on the Caro Village Council as a Trustee and/or President Pro Tem over fifteen years and later as the Village Assessor. Surviving are his wife of over 65 years, Sharlie Wilsie of Caro; two sons, one daughter and their spouses, Ron & Cynthia Wilsie of Santa Ana, California, Robert & Lisa Wilsie of Blaine, Minnesota, Susan & Mike Hacker of Tahoma, California; seven grandchildren, Cole, Caitlin, Jack, Steven, Mathew Wilsie and Riley and Jake Hacker; one sister, Eloise Simpson of Caro; one brother and his wife, Richard & Bridgette Wilsie of Scottsdale, Arizona; one sister-in-law, Gene Palmer of Cass City and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Shurley was preceded in death by one sister, June Timko in 2009.