Clara Shetlar

Clara L. (Shelton) Shetlar, 91, passed away on April 13, 2012 in Houston, Texas after suffering a stroke the Friday before. She was born in Watova, OK on August 29, 1920 to Mary Rose-Shelton and Harry Shelton. She grew up in the Mildred-Moran, KS area where her parents operated a family farm. She married Marvin Roy Shetlar of Bayard, KS on June 1, 1940. Clara went with Marvin to Ohio State University in Columbus, OH where he received his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry and Clara received her B.S. degree in Food and Nutrition. Clara and Marvin moved to Oklahoma City in 1946 where Marvin worked as a biochemistry professor at the University of Oklahoma Medical School and Clara worked as his research assistant, coauthoring numerous scientific publications. In 1951, both received radioisotope training at Oak Ridge, TN which was used by both in their research projects. In 1964, Clara and Marvin served as Instructor and Visiting Professor at Airlangga University in Surabaja, Indonesia for 18 months before going to Churchill Hospital in Oxford, England where Marvin was a Visiting Professor for 8 months. Marvin and Clara returned to the University of Oklahoma, and after two years, they moved to Galveston, Texas where Marvin was a professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. In 1974, Clara and Marvin moved to Lubbock, TX where Marvin resumed his research and teaching duties as a Professor at the Texas Tech University School of Medicine. In the late 1970's, Clara and Marvin again accepted visiting Instructor and Visiting Professor Positions at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia for two years, after which both returned to Lubbock. Marvin retired in 1980, but continued research as an Emeritus Professor and Clara pursued and completed her M.S. Degree in Nutrition. She was proud to note that she maintained a 4.0 GPA during her studies! In the mid-1990's, Clara and Marvin moved to the Copperfield Community, outside of Houston, TX to be closer to their daughter and granddaughter. Clara lost Marvin in 2001. She is survived by her son, David Shetlar, Ph.D., and daughters, Susan Holler, and Debra Shetlar, MD. She had two granddaughters, one grandson, five great grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. FUNERAL SERVICE: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Mildred United Methodist Church in Mildred, KS BURIAL: Fairview Cemetery, Mildred, KS Arrangements are being coordinated by the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in Iola, KS. Online condolences for the family may be left on this website, www.iolafuneral.com .