Daniel L. 'Dan' Spears, 83, of Woodlawn community, lost his battle with dementia Feb 11, 2023.
He is now reunited with his beloved wife Mary who made her journey in 2020.
Dan moved to Woodlawn in 1974 and raised his family. He always had a story to tell, but beware, some elements were questionable and he loved a good joke.
He was a family man, at every sporting event, marriage, birth of his grandchildren and the great grand babies. He enjoyed fishing and camping and later started showing horses.
He served in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Japan. He completed his tour of duty on a Saturday and on Sunday, the military was now involved in Vietnam.
He then went into sales with Wonder Bread and Coleman dairy before finding his home with Frito Lay. He worked for them 32+ years before retiring in 2001.
Dan was bom September 22, 1939 to the late Henry and Sally Spears, he grew up in Pine Bluff. There were 14 children all together in his family. He often recalled they were like Ma and Pa Kettle when they came to the table. As a matter of fact, per him, he never made it to the table til he was 12. He would hide under the table and bite his sisters on the ankle to get them ^ to drop a biscuit.
He was preceded in death by his soulmate, Mary, in August of 2020. He had 2 daughters, 4 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. His eldest daughter is Tina Spears Robinson (Bmce), their two daughters, Lesli Robinson Banister (Jason) and their children, Madison and Luke Banister; Melissa Robinson Matthews (Jace) and their two daughters Harper and Tenley, all of Texarkana, Ark.; his younger daughter, Stacy Spears Lem (Howard) their daughter Autumn Lem and her son Dalton Lem of Malvern and son Kyle Lem (Amanda) and their sons Asher and Tucker Lem, all of Rison.
He has two remaining sisters, Marylou Brewer of Pine Bluff, Pat Martin of Little Rock and a brother Fred Puckett of Oregon.
The family is planning a private ceremony this spring. His final resting place will be Chambersville cemetery in Fordyce, Ark.
We ask if you would like to remember Dan, that you make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in his name or the Boy and Girls Ranch in Batesville, Ark.
We would also like to thank the staff of 3NE at JRMC for the compassionate care, Arkansas Hospice and a very special physician, Larisa Kachowski. Thank you for loving him as if he was your own.