Obituaries

Calvin James Spivey

Photo of Calvin James Spivey
Calvin James Spivey died peacefully surrounded by loving family on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, at Jamestown Nursing and Rehabilitation facility in Rogers. Calvin was born Jan. 18, 1918 in Hansford County, Texas. Calvin is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Randolph and Alice James Spivey, his siblings Joseph Spivey, Rex Spivey and Maude Allee and wives Mattie Thompson Spivey (1940-1986), Nannette Runnels Spivey (1987-1998) and Marian Frances Bowman Spivey (1999-2013). Calvin grew up in Hansford County, Texas and Mosquero, N.M., and graduated from high school in Nara Visa, N.M. as valedictorian in 1934. He attended University of New Mexico and received a B.S. Degree from John Brown University in 1938. Calvin's first job was high school teacher of industrial arts and band director in Jay, Okla. from 1938 to 1941. During World War II, he was an instructor of airplane mechanics and airplane inspector at Sheppard Field near Wichita Falls, Texas. He then launched into a career as a petroleum seismologist from 1945-1968 working for GSI in Arkansas, Louisiana, Venezuela, then Petty Geophysical in Brisbane, Australia. Calvin and his wife Mattie moved to Rogers, Ark., in 1968 and founded Rivercliff Realty with his brother Rex Spivey. He remained in the real estate business for the next 33 years, serving as President of the Roger Board of Realtors in 1975. His last position was working at Rex Spivey Real Estate. One of his biggest transactions was selling the Hobbs Estate consisting of 12,000 acres of property on Beaver Lake in Rogers to the State of Arkansas Parks and Tourism Commission in 1979. In addition to his career, Calvin was an active member in First United Methodist Church from 1968 to present and sang in the choir many of those years. Calvin was also a member of Rogers Lions Club for 33 years, serving as president in 2001. He founded Habitat for Humanity in Rogers in 1993, served as President for four years and received the Pride of Rogers award in 1999 in recognition of Habitat's founding. In addition to his career and achievements, Calvin's main hobby was music. He sang and played the guitar, entertaining friends and family his entire life. Calvin was known as a caring, happy person who saw the good in everyone. He loved people and never let a minute go to waste. After retiring from real estate, he wrote his life memoirs and completed his family tree. Calvin is survived by his children, Rex Spivey of Dallas, Texas, Sharon Spivey James of The Villages, Fla., Stacey Spivey Smith of Darien, Conn., and grandchildren, Stephen Spivey of Dallas, Texas and Megan Elizabeth Smith, age 16, and Calvin Foster Smith, age 14, both of Darien, Conn. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at First United Methodist Church in Rogers, Ark. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Rogers.

Published February 19, 2017

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