Richard Earl Shotts, 55

June 5, 2012

Richard Earl Shotts, 55, Rural Valley, passed away Sunday, June 3, 2012.

He was born Nov. 17, 1956, in Kittanning, a son of Dorothy (McCausland) Shotts, who survives, and the late Lynn Murray Shotts, who preceded him in death Dec. 31, 2008.

May 27, 1978, he married Candice (Cooper) Shotts, who survives.

Mr. Shotts worked in the maintenance department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was a retired coal miner.

He was a member of local Union No. 488 and the National and PA Trappers Associations.

In 1976, he purchased the family farm from his grandparents, John and Bertha McCausland, and lived in the homestead ever since.

Mr. Shotts enjoyed trapping, gardening and spending time with his family.
In addition to his mother and wife, surviving relatives include a son, Richard M. Shotts and wife Heather of Hawthorn; a daughter, Jessica Fairman of Smicksburg; three brothers, Edward Shotts and wife Connie of Smicksburg, John Shotts, and Donald Shotts and wife Marlene, all of Dayton; two sisters, Terry Baker and husband Jerry of Dayton, and Norma Jean Hunter and husband Lewis of Rural Valley; his father-in-law, Robert Harkless of Tionesta; and seven grandchildren, Lillian, Nolan and Grady Shotts, and Anna, Lynny, Jack and Clara Jean Fairman.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death a brother, Jeffrey Scott Shotts, who died Oct. 18, 1994.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Carson/Boyer Funeral Home Inc., 724 Main St., Rural Valley, with the Rev. Kenneth Seidler officiating.

Interment will take place at the Rural Valley Cemetery.