Obituary: Arlen Thomas McCloskey, 76, of Scottville

Arlen McCloskey

Arlen Thomas McCloskey, 76, of Scottville went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Arlen was born April 24, 1949 in Hart the son of Orville and Margrete (Verschueren) McCloskey. Being raised on the 80 acre family property on Black Lake, summers were filled with swimming, fishing and lots of mischief. Fall and winters were spent hunting, snowmobiling and ice fishing.

Arlen graduated from Hart High School in 1967, Muskegon Community College in 1969, and Ferris State College (now Ferris State University) in 1971 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He served in the United States Army National Guard from 1971-1977. He was also a 1984 graduate of the Herbert W. Prochnow Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wis. and in 1989 completed an ABA at the National Commercial Lending School, University of Oklahoma.

While still in high school, Arlen’s first job was a “bag boy” at Hansen Foods in Hart. In 1972 he took a job at Credit Thrift of America. Then in 1974 Arlen started working at State Savings Bank of Scottville, where he retired in 2006 as the executive vice president, from what is now known as West Shore Bank. He went on to work for a few months at Great Lakes Ford. As not really ready to enjoy retired life, Arlen took a job at Shelby State Bank, Ludington Branch, as a senior vice president. He retired from Shelby State Bank in 2014, but continued to work part time until 2018. After fully retiring, Arlen enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, especially the gatherings at Black Lake, growing his garden and fruit trees. He was probably most happy golfing with his best buddies Dan, Mike and Bruce; and also time spent golfing on his Monday night league at Lakeside Links.

Arlen served on numerous boards and committees through his life; he was chairman of the Scottville Harvest Festival, chairman of the Scottville Downtown Development, on the board of Ludington Downtown Development, Hospice of Mason County, was a member of the Scottville Optimist Club, and the Scottville-Ludington Chamber of Commerce.

Arlen will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Marcie, of 46 years; his four children, Ross (Kendra) McCloskey of Muskegon, Stacey (Tobias) Scouten of Shelby, Trent (Shayna) McCloskey of Rockford, and Riley McCloskey of Scottville. He will also be greatly missed by his nine grandchildren, Logan and Gabrielle McCloskey, Jonah, Isabelle, Isaiah, and Isaac Scouten, Teagan, Lexi and Max McCloskey; along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arlen was preceded in death by his parents Orville and Margrete McCloskey; his brother Russell McCloskey; sister Delores Sadenwater; infant sister Sonya McCloskey; father and mother-in-law James and Alice Schwass,; brothers-in-law Charles Sadenwater and Tony DeVecht.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Arlen at 11 a.m. on Tuesday July 1 at the Ludington Area St. Paul Church, 3212 W. Kinney Rd. with Pastor Joseph Beavan officiating. A private family burial will take place at Center Riverton Cemetery. Friends may meet with the family for a time of visitation on Monday evening June 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Wyman Funeral & Cremation Services-Stephens Funeral Home in Scottville, and on Tuesday morning from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church. Those who wish to remember Arlen with a memorial donation are asked to consider Mason County Central Schools Educational Foundation – General Scholarship Fund, or Ludington Area St. Paul Church.

Please visit Arlen’s memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to share a tribute or memory of Arlen with his family.