Otis Stout Obituary

Otis W. Stout

May 30, 1950 – July 7, 2025

Otis W. Stout died peacefully on July 7, 2025, with his wife of 45 years, Judy, by his side. The family will receive visitors at the O'Guinn Family Funeral Home in Clio on Sunday from 12PM until 6PM and on Monday from 1PM until 8PM. A private burial will take place on Tuesday in Woodlawn Cemetery. Otis was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who generously dedicated his time to serving the Clio community. Otis was "Mr. Clio," acting as City Attorney for 43 years until his retirement in 2023. He was an active member of Bethany United Methodist Church and played essential roles in numerous community organizations. His legal practice in downtown Clio became an institution during his 50-year career.
As important to Otis as his distinguished legal career was the time he spent with his family. Together, they traveled throughout the United States, visiting family, amusement parks, and historic landmarks. Otis took pride in having road tripped through 45 states. He was also a long-time season ticket holder to Michigan football. He rarely missed a game at the Big House, and heading to Ann Arbor on Saturdays in the fall as a family is a memory that will be cherished by all. Otis also enjoyed learning about history, competitive family games of Jeopardy, and telling stories about family history, growing up in Clio, and attending Woodstock and the Rose Bowl. Otis was the fourth of six children born to Sylvester and Mata. He grew up in Clio and graduated from the Clio High School class of 1968. Otis then graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint where he was elected senior class president and selected as the student commencement speaker. He obtained his Juris Doctor as part of the inaugural graduating class from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1975. After graduation, Otis clerked for Judge Harry McAra before going into private practice for the remainder of his long career. His son, Andrew, later joined the practice where Otis mentored and taught him the importance of treating all clients with dignity and respect. While Otis was clerking for Judge McAra he would collect his checks from the Treasurer's office, where he met and fell in love with Judy Jones. Otis and Judy married in 1979 and moved into the home they built together in 1980. They welcomed two children and raised them with great love and stability in the family home. Otis is survived by his wife Judy, daughter Rebecca (Patrick) Stout-Fowler and son Andrew (Stevie) Stout, grandchildren Maeve, Hugh, and Bernard Fowler and Eliza Stout, sister Rita Bordeau and brother Eric Stout. Otis was preceded in death by his mother Mata Stout-Swick, his father Sylvester Stout Sr., and his brothers Sylvester Stout Jr., William Stout III, and Rex Stout. All of those who loved Otis will miss him dearly. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Bethany United Methodist Food Pantry program: