Obituaries

Grayson Eldridge Spears

Photo of Grayson Eldridge Spears
Grayson Eldridge Spears, 85, of Jacksonville, Arkansas passed away on November 23, 2014, in Texarkana, Texas. He was born in Spearsville, Louisiana on December 20, 1928, to Grayson Lee and Lillian Rockett Spears. Upon graduating from Lisbon High School he enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17, serving in Korea at the close of World War II. After the war he attended Northwestern State University and Centenary College in Louisiana. A natural leader, Mr. Spears organized and operated a number of successful businesses, including three carpet mills and a trucking company, and was responsible for creating approximately one thousand jobs. In 1982 he began an award-winning career as an agent for Shelter Insurance Company, serving the Jacksonville area until his retirement in 2006. Always smiling, he encouraged his children, grandchildren and other young people to live a Christian life, to follow their dreams and to be good citizens. In addition to raising eight children of his own, Mr. Spears fostered a number of children who were at times without parents. He generously supported a number of charities and sat on the Advisory Board of Paragould Children's Home. He was also a member of the President's Advisory Council for Harding University. In his spare time he loved to fish. He loved to eat fish even more. Mr. Spears was a member of Somers Avenue Church of Christ, and had served as a Deacon in many congregations and as an Elder at Bailey Street and North Jacksonville Churches of Christ in Jacksonville, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, James Spears and Ted Spears; three sisters, Opal Spears, Florene Keech and Barbara Roberson; and one grandson, Austin Carter. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Geraldine "Gerri" Gibson Spears; four sons, Duane Carter and wife Denise of Romance, Arkansas; Don Spears and wife Kim of Bentonville, Arkansas; David Carter and wife Stacy of Texarkana, Texas; and Mark Spears of Bryant, Arkansas; four daughters, Linda Branham and husband Rick of Hope, Arkansas; Dawn Cornelius and husband Ron of Pleasant View, Tennessee; Chris Lundsford of Wyoming; and Debbie Hull and husband Chris of Hannibal, Missouri; eight grandsons, 17 granddaughters and 11 great-grandchildren. Mr. Spears is also survived by three brothers, Paul Spears and wife Gwenette of Ruston, Louisiana; JerrySpears and wife Donna of Little Rock; and Donny Spears and wife Fran, of Little Rock; one sister, Evelyn Hudson and husband Leroy of Blanchard, Louisiana; one sister-in-law, Nell Spears of Magnolia; one brother-in-law, Jerry Roberson of Hope, Arkansas. Services will be held at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, with Oren Burt and James Anderson officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home & Crematory (501) 982-2136. Sign online guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.

Published November 25, 2014

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