Claren Lee Hosselton, age 78, of Clay City, IL, passed away on Thursday, December 9th, 2021, at his farm in Clay City, IL.
Claren was the son of (Leon) Cletis Hosselton and Wilma Fern (Pierce) Hosselton born on January 9th, 1943, in Clay City, IL. He attended grade school at the Wells School on the Clay/Wayne County Line 2 miles east of Big Four Road. He graduated from Clay City High School where he held the hurdles record for numerous years. Claren attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science. He continued his education earning his master’s degree from the University of Illinois, with a specialty certificate in agriculture and education.
Claren became the agriculture teacher at Kinmundy High School in, Kinmundy, IL, (South Central High School) in 1967, later becoming the superintendent. In 1977, Claren returned home to work on the family farm with his father and brother, Larry, and where he worked until the day he passed.
He married Mary June Garrison on March 17th, 1979, in Clay City and was married for 37 years until her passing in August of 2016. Claren was a devoted father and husband to his son, stepdaughter, stepson, and wife. He was an amazing grandpa. He would drop whatever he was doing to play, spend time or help his grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren. He was also an impactful mentor and teacher to numerous people he met throughout his lifetime. Claren was an active participant to all he met. He enjoyed researching local and national news, sports, and tabloids to better engage in conversation with those he would be surrounded by.
Claren was a man of the community. He was a firing man for the Elm River Chowder for most of his life. He was the President of the board for the North Wayne Ambulance since 1988. He served as a Trustee on the Zif Township board in Wayne County, IL, from 1989 to 2021. While serving, he maintained and dug burial plots at the four cemeteries in Zif Township. He served on the board of directors for The Clay City Banking Company from 1989 to 2018. While on the board Claren and his brother took pride in building and decorating the bank floats for all local parades. He was a brother of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Kinmundy Lodge #398.
Claren truly enjoyed farming and instilling that same love into his son and grandchildren. He was actively engaged in raising cattle and in the last three years, he has become an avid pony lover due to the apple of his eye, his granddaughter Sophia. Claren loved going to auctions and purchasing unique antique tractors. He had a passion for collecting HO trains and continued his wife’s love of collecting and showing Terri Lee dolls. He used his craftsmanship skills to help build numerous homes in the community, including his own.
Survivors include son, Lee Hosselton (wife Ashley) of Clay City; stepdaughter, Sherry Lence (husband Greg) of Anna, IL; stepdaughter-in-law, Cheryl Piontkowski (husband Gary) of Ft. Myers, FL; two grandchildren: Sophia and Clinton Hosselton of Clay City, IL; five step-grandchildren: Parker (Kane) Newton (wife Beth) of LeRoy, IL, Kenton “KC” Newton of Jonesboro, IL, Skyler and Dexter Peterson of Ft. Myers, FL, Dustin Peterson (wife Rene`e) of Avoca, NY; four step-great-grandchildren: Aaron Martell, Jessica Newton, Madaline and Arabella Peterson; one brother, Larry Hosselton (wife Kay) of Clay City, IL; two nieces: Teri Herman (husband Kim) of Olney, IL and Susan Chapman (husband Kevin) of Evansville, IN; a nephew: Gary Hosselton (wife Kristi) of Clay City, IL; great nieces and nephews, Matt (wife Julie) Herman, Allison Herman, Megan Chapman, Alex Chapman, Gavin Hosselton, Chad Hosselton, and Trent Hosselton; and many other relatives and many friends.
Preceding him in death was his wife; his parents; stepson, Richard Eugene “Rick” Peterson; and step-great-granddaughter, Madalyn “Maddi” Grace Taylor.
Funeral arrangements for Claren Hosselton are in the care of Frank & Bright Funeral Home, 500 N. Main St. (south of Route 50 and CVS) in Flora, IL. A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, December 16th, at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 17th, at the funeral home with burial following at Zif Cemetery south of Clay City in Wayne County.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Zif Cemetery Fund or the North Wayne Ambulance. These will be accepted at the funeral home during services or can be mailed to the Frank & Bright Funeral Home at 500 N. Main St., Flora, IL 62839.
