Clarence Nye

Clarence “Butch” Nye passed away on the evening of December 19, 2025, at the age of 87. Butch is survived by his Wife of 64 years, Sharon, his Sisters, Mary Phillips and Patricia Wiley, His Daughter Yvonne (David) Staples, His sons, Robert (Eva), Steven (Anne), and Jason, Grandchildren Matthew (Abigail) and Annabelle Staples, Collin and Ryan Nye, Samuel Duran and Camille and Jensen Nye.

Butch was born in 1938 to Clarence and Geneva Nye, in Lansing, Michigan. A graduate of Eastern High School, and attendee of Michigan State University, Butch managed several A&P grocery stores and retired as the service manager of University Oldsmobile. A lifelong motorsports enthusiast, Butch was known to many in the Charlotte and Lansing community as an expert in classic cars and for his willingness to fix anyone’s car for a burger and a beer. In retirement he built his own garage and restored dozens of classic cars for friends and family. A regular on the mid-Michigan car show circuit, Butch’s work was widely known and respected throughout the classic car community.

Butch’s shop was known throughout the Mid-Michigan area for “happy hour,” when friends and fellow car enthusiasts would stop in for a quick tune-up, to float a new project, or to just have a beer and watch whatever sporting event was on that day. A lifelong Spartan, Tigers, Lions, Red Wings, Pistons, and Nascar fan, when not actively working on a car you could always find Butch in his Shop or on his back porch, happy to share a cold beer and talk sports or life, whatever you needed.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial will be held at a later date. In Butch’s memory, the family will be establishing a Butch Nye Memorial Scholarship, the goal of which will be to support students wishing to become the next generation of mechanics and automotive technicians. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that you consider a donation to the establishment of the Butch Nye Memorial Scholarship.