Obituary: Shotts, Lieutenant General Bryan M. “Jack”, Usaf Retired
He was preceded in death by his childhood sweetheart and beloved wife of 65 years, Betty Jean (Bissell) Shotts, as well as by his mother, Bernice E. (Meeks) Shotts, and his father, Bryan N. Shotts.
General Shotts lived a distinguished life of military and civic service.
He was born in Laurel, Mississippi on October 29, 1922 and entered the service in January, 1942 as an army aviation cadet.
During WWII he flew B-17s as a combat lead crew pilot in the European Theater.
At the time of his retirement on November 1, 1978, he was Commander of Strategic Air Command’s Fifteenth Air Force (SAC).
General Shotts was a veteran of three wars (WWII, Korea, and Vietnam).
His decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart among numerous other awards both military and civilian.
Upon his retirement, General Shotts and his wife Betty Jean returned to their home state of Mississippi.
They spent 27 years in the Gulf Coast communities of Ocean Springs and Biloxi.
In 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Shotts relocated to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to be near their children.
Following his retirement, General Shotts continued to serve as an active member of the local business community, a leader in his church, and a prominent member of many military and civic organizations.
He was a member of the Order of Daedalians, American Legion, Masons, Shriners, Biloxi Rotary Club, and Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club.
General Shotts is survived by his four daughters Sheila, Jacqueline, Beverly and Sheryl, as well as by seven grandchildren and five great- grandchildren.
He will be missed, but never forgotten.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
A visitation will be held from 12:00p.m.
to 5:00p.m.
on Monday, November 18, 2013 at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. 4th St. in Coeur d’Alene.
General Shotts will be laid to rest with full military honors at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens at a private family graveside.
He will be interred next to his beloved wife Betty Jean.
ENGLISH FUNERAL CHAPEL of Coeur d’Alene has been entrusted to handle final arrangements.
Please visit General Shotts’ online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.