Earl Lee Rotan

Local businessman and entrepreneur Earl Lee Rotan, Sr. passed away early Tuesday morning, March 18, 2014, at his home in Florence. Earl was born in Hartsville, SC, a son of the late Murdock Rotan and Corrine Marsh Rotan.He was a 1947 graduate of Florence High and was a member of the Palmetto Street Church of God. Earl loved to fish and work in his back yard and was a gifted artist.His greatest interest outside his business was his family and many friends. Earl was known for his generosity and friendliness. Earl started his career at Maxwell Shoes on North Dargan Street in 1948.From there he went to the Florence Shoe Store. His career escalated until he opened his first store in 1969, Rotan Shoes, which at one time consisted of nine locations.He also owned Stride-Rite Shoes of Florence. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Rotan and his brother, Jimmy L. Rotan. Surviving are his wife, of sixty-three years, Nellie Faye Sawyer Rotan; his four sons, Earl Lee (Debra) Rotan, Jr. of Florence, Russell (Brenda) Rotan of Lumberton, NC, Carl (Sheila) Rotan of Hartsville, SC and Steve (Sandy) Rotan of Mauldin, SC; his daughter, Cindy (Dale) Poston of Summerton, SC;ten grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Barbara Branton of Claussen, Patsy Bailey, MichaelRotan and Tyrone Rotan, all of Florence. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at Palmetto Street Church of God.Burial will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Cletus Jerome Sawyer, Jr., Kevin DeanLambert, and four grandsons, Earl Lee Rotan, III, Joseph Martin Rotan, Edwin “Russ” Rotan, II and Nathan Scott Poston. The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM on Wednesday at the funeral home and other times at the residence. Memorials may be made to Palmetto Street Church of God, 3132 West Palmetto Street, Florence, SC29501. Please sign the tribute wall for Mr. Rotan at the obit section of www.stoudenmiredowling.com