Mr. Claudie Earl Etherly

ETHERLY, Mr. Claudie - Age 77, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2024 in Troy, MI. Family hour 10:30 AM Saturday, May 25, 2024 at House of Prayer Baptist Church, 1851 W. Carpenter Rd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Interment Flint Memorial Park, G-9506 N. Dort Hwy., Mt. Morris, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 AM Saturday. Mr. Etherly will lie in state in the chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd;, and may be viewed Friday, May 24, 2024 from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Mr. Claudie Earl Etherly, age 77, of Flint MI passed away on May 15, 2024. Mr. Etherly was born October 09, 1946, in Rison Arkansas. The son of Alvin Sr. and Ophia Etherly. He graduated from Central High School in 1964. During his time at Flint Central High School, Claudie played football as an offensive guard and middle linebacker. He was awarded first team all-state and received many other accolades during his time. After graduation, he was hired into General Motors until he was drafted by the United States Army in January 1966. At this time, he spent time overseas during the Vietnam war as a specialist in the 68th brigade. In 1973, he met Wille Spiller in Flint Michigan, and they went on to marry in 1980 with whom he had two children. After 45 years of dedicated service, he retired from General Motors in 2008 and spent his time with his family, watching sports, bowling, barbecuing and frying turkeys. Claudie's favorite pastime was spending time with his grandchildren and playing electronic puzzles on his mobile device. He was rich in wisdom, in kindness and in love. Claudie was the kind of man who knew the value of hard work, the importance of honesty, and the strength of humility. His life was not an easy journey, but it was a journey he embarked on with courage and dignity. Claudie taught his children and grandchildren the importance of resilience, the power of kindness, and the value of integrity. He taught many to be brave in the face of adversity, to be compassionate in the face of cruelty, to be humble in the face of accolades. His motto was not just how to live, but how to live well, with purpose, with passion and love. Mr. Claudie Earl Etherly leaves to cherish his memory: son, Claron Etherly of Rosedale, MD; daughter, Clawanna Etherly; grandchildren, Sean Etherly and Madison Etherly, all of Troy MI; brother, Andre (Lynese) Etherly of Alexandria, VA; brother-in law, Johnny Spiller of Flint; 2 sisters-in-law, Kathleen Etherly of Flushing, MI and Deborah Thompson of Flint; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins and numerous friends. Mr. Etherly was preceded in death by his wife, Willie Etherly; parents, Alvin Etherly Sr. and Ophia Etherly; grandparents, Arthur (Minerva) Etherly and Claudie (Ora) Frye; brother, Alvin Etherly Jr.; father and mother-in-law, Freddie and Essie Spiller; sisters-in-law, Barbara Johnson, Elizabeth Nealy and Gloria Spiller; nephews, Herman Nealy, Gregory Nealy and Deandre Walker-Bey; and multiple aunts, uncles, cousins and friend's.