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Submitted: 5/7/22 • Approved: 5/7/22 • Last Updated: 5/10/22 • R1431463-G1430087-S3
Billy
February 18, 1929 - January 15, 2018
*Obituary
Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Billy Don Spears, 88, of Tulsa, Okla., passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in Tulsa. He was born Feb. 18, 1929, in Cincinnati, Ark, the son of Roy Eugene Spears and Barbara Ruth (Smith) Spears.
He was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ark., where he grew up on the old Dave Smith farm. He went to John Brown University, not long after his marriage to Mary Lou Willis Spears on Oct. 29, 1949, they moved to Tulsa. He worked many types of jobs, mostly in the aircraft industry; after 27 years at Rockwell he retired. His pass times were hunting, fishing and camping. He loved to garden. He started out growing all fruits and vegetables, until Mary couldn't keep up the canning and freezing, so he added roses, then other flowers. He loved the challenge of propagation by cuttings and growing from seeds. He did this until his stroke in November of 2014. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge.
He was preceded in death by his infant son, Larry Don Spears; his mother, Ruth Spears; his father, Roy Eugene Spears; stepmother, Edna Jane Gardisser Spears; and sister, Sue Carol Spears Cheatham.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Mary Lou Spears; one son, Roger Alan Spears; one daughter, Paula Karen Willoughby; seven grandchildren, Steven Roberts, Sammy Roberts, Samantha Roberts Hendrickson, Joshua Willoughby, Noah Willoughby, Zachariah Willoughby and Luke Willoughby; 13 great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Joann Spears Kahler of Mexico; and brother, Roy Gene Spears and wife Carol of West Virginia.
Funeral Service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at Summers Missionary Baptist Church with burial in the in Old Union Cemetery.
Online guest book, www.luginbuel.com.
Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove, Ark., was in charge of arrangements.
Mary
November 23, 1930 - March 20, 2022
*Obituary
Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Thursday, March 24, 2022
TULSA, Okla. — Mary Lou Spears, age 91, a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born November 23, 1930, in Gentry, Ark., the daughter of Daniel Cleland and Jewel (Osborne) Willis. She was raised in Washington County Arkansas. Graduated from Cincinnati High
School in 1949, where she played basketball, was a class officer, participated in the plays, was a queen candidate, carnival queen and member of the Glee Club. Mary and her sister Polly worked summers at the Gypsy Camp for refined girls on the Illinois River.
She married Billy Don Spears on October 29, 1949, and were married 68 years before his passing in 2018. She moved to Tulsa Oklahoma, as a wife and mom she took care of her family and home. She took her children to Eastwood Baptist Church and as we thought any good father would do, Billy Don added the potatoes to the roast for Sunday dinner. After the kids grew up and left Mary honed her typing skills and went to work for Tulsa Public Schools as a teacher's aide, became School Secretary and worked last in administration at TPS Service Center. She found her love of cross stitch and has many framed and beautiful pieces. Mary was loved by all who knew her and will be missed dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her infant son, Larry Don Spears, her husband, Billy Don Spears, two brothers, Harold Gene Willis and Samuel Willis, two sisters, Doris Griffin and Polly Meade, and one grandson, Joshua Willoughby. Survivors include one son, Roger Spears; one daughter, Paula Karen Willoughby; six grandchildren, Steven Roberts, Sammy Roberts, Samantha Roberts Hendrickson, Noah Willoughby, Zachariah Willoughby and Luke Willoughby; thirteen great-grandchildren, one brother, D.C. Willis of Skiatook, Oklahoma.
Visitation will be held Friday evening, at Luginbuel Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, March 26, 2022, at Summers Baptist Church in Summers, Arkansas. Burial will be in the Old Union Cemetery in Cincinnati, Arkansas. Online guest book: www.luginbuel.com.
Married October 29, 1949
Contributed on 5/7/22 by wfields55
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Record #: 1431463