CLEOFUS "LEE" SHURN

Aug. 11, 1940 - Jan. 13, 2011
SOUTH BEND - Cleofus "Lee" Shurn, 70, of South Bend, Indiana, loving son, father, brother and friend, passed away Thursday morning on January 13, 2011, after a lengthy illness. Cleofus, also known as "Lee" to many, was born in Parkin, Arkansas, on August 11, 1940, to Eles Otto Shurn and Addie B. Shurn (Walker). Cleofus was the fifth of 10 children. After the Shurn family moved to South Bend in 1944, Cleofus was baptized at Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church in South Bend at the age of 13.

Cleofus graduated from Kaley Elementary, and then from Central High in 1959.

On September 4, 1960, Cleofus married Georgia Mae Brown of Benton Harbor, Michigan. From this union two sons were born, Anthony Lee, 49, of Hyattsville, Maryland, and Andre Lamar, 48, of Calumet Park, Illinois.

Cleofus soon thereafter established his professional career with Kay Equipment, Inc., in South Bend as a sales representative. He eventually took his sales skills to Gurley-Leep Cadillac Oldsmobile in South Bend, from which he retired.

Sometime after the marriage of Cleofus and Georgia ended, he married Janice Taylor (deceased) of Gary, Indiana.

Cleofus later became a member of the Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church family. He was known as a sharp dresser who had a generous spirit, an infectious smile and quick wit. Cleofus loved photography, sporting events, playing chess, and sharing laughs with family and friends.

He is survived by mother, Addie; sons, Anthony, Andre and Kevin; grandchildren, Andre Lavae Shurn and Latasha Shante Shurn; as well as his brothers and sisters, Eles Jr., Fred, Marsha Faye (Shepard), Arthur, Charlie, Archie and Armentral (Morris); dear friend, Doris Prince; and many cousins, nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his father and sisters, Bertha (Carter) and Margie Ruth (Johnson). Cleofus will be missed.

Services For Cleofus "Lee" Shurn will be held in the Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 206 S. Falcon St., South Bend, on Thursday, January 20, 2011. The viewing will be at 10 a.m. and the service will begin at 11 a.m. Cleofus will be buried at Highland Cemetery in South Bend. Flowers and other tributes may be sent to the Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home, 2702 Lincoln Way West, South Bend, IN 46628. Visit www.clarkoneal.com to sign his guestbook and view photo tribute.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Jan. 16, 2011.

03/02/2023 EJS