Patricia Fay Spears

Patricia Fay (Pat) Spears of Kirby, age 72, died Thursday, August 7, surrounded by those she loved most. 

She was born March 16, 1952, in Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of Faye Elizabeth Partee and the late Walter Franklin Allison.

 On September 3, 1971, she was married to Charles Spears. She was preceded in death by her father, Walter, and brothers Jackie Allison and Johnnie Allison.

 She was a 1970 graduate of Kirby High School and a member of Caney Valley Missionary Baptist Church. Pat was born in Peoria, IL and moved to Kirby at a young age. After high school, she married Charles and they began their 52-year adventure of life, love and laughter.

 Pat worked for many collective years at Hudson Foods, Poulan and Repops where she made many lifelong friends. In 1976, their daughter, Jennifer, was born. From that point forward, Pat and Charles could be found on the sidelines of the ballfield, the top row of the Kirby gym, and anywhere else Jennifer and the rest of their family might be. She was a constant support and fan of her daughter and her family of friends. 

 In 1999, her first granddaughter, Allison, was born, followed by Kalyn in 2005. Pat loved being Memaw and traveled far and wide, supporting the girls on the field, court, in archery, and beyond. In 2019, she gained another granddaughter, Kaylee. She relished in her closeness with her granddaughters and loved to attend and celebrate their accomplishments. She was a very proud Memaw.

 Pat loved an adventure. She enjoyed camping at Lake Greeson and making her annual beach trip to Navarre with her family- trips which became a Spears girls’ tradition over the years. Pat loved to play board games and bingo, and would happily beat anyone and everyone at croquet. She was always witty and always had the necessary spark of mischief known well by all who loved her. 

 After retiring, she began working at the Kirby Kwik Stop in the deli alongside her oldest granddaughter. There, she took care of several more generations and her Mom and Memaw title continued to grow. She was a beloved member of the community, a constant on the top row of the Kirby gym and friend to all.

 She is survived by her spouse of 52 years, Charles; their daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Daniel Workman of Glenwood; grandchildren, Allison and Deric Putz of Lodi, Kalyn Fryar of Glenwood and Kaylee Workman of Fordyce; sisters and brothers-in-law Theresa Wilder and Gary Moore, Marilyn Wilson, Marsha and Ted Mansfield and Leah Allison; and her mother, Faye Teague. She will be missed by many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends, and two generations of adopted daughters and granddaughters.

 Visitation will be Monday, August 12 from 6-8pm at Smith Family Funeral Home Chapel in Glenwood.

 Services will be Tuesday, August 13 at 10am, also at Smith Family Funeral Home Chapel in Glenwood.

 Pallbearers are John Thomas Allison, Brett Tedder, Jeromy Brewer, Charlie Bob White, Kevin Evans and Jacob Risner.