Michael Ray Spencer, the beloved son of Roy Breadican Spencer and Pearl Naomi Dunivin was born September 24, 1945 in St. Louis, Missouri and passed away at Miller County Care & Rehabilitation Center in Tuscumbia, Missouri on December 20, 2024 making him 79 years and 3 months of age. He was united in marriage to Charlotte Ann Collins Spencer on July 4, 1964. To this union 2 children were born: Tina Rae Spencer and Michelle Anne Spencer.
Also known as Mick (by his mother and relatives), Mike or Spence (by his friends), he grew up on a farm near Olney, Missouri, where he attended elementary school. The family moved to the Summersville area where he attended and graduated from Summersville High School. After high school, he attended a technical school in Springfield, Missouri. Later he attended a few courses of his interest with Southwest Missouri State University. Mike worked on the farm with his parents and in the late 1970’s bought his first semi-truck and hauled feed for the Summersville Mill. He then went on to drive for Bekins Van Lines Moving Company as a coast-to-coast driver and received safe driving awards for his years of driving. He later owned his own company and engaged in car hauling throughout the United States. Upon his retirement from the trucking business, he continued farming. Mike enjoyed making and baling hay. He watched the weather closely and prided himself in getting the hay baled without getting it rained upon.
Growing up, Mike had a horse named Dan. He was an excellent rider. Mike loved cars, trucks, motor cycles, dune buggies, and boats. Mike thoroughly enjoyed dune bugging with his fellow friends and riding his motor cycle. As a young man he liked to go fast and also drag race. However, in his later years after having health problems, he would slowly drive his little red pickup daily around the neighborhood exploring back roads. He was known to pick up abandoned dogs and cats he would find along the road and bring them home to nurture. Once he brought home a baby skunk for his daughters to take care of. He also enjoyed fishing, skiing, and camping at Red Bank on the Norfork Lake. He became an expert skier on one ski and on the “round” board. He enjoyed gigging on the Current River. He enjoyed deer hunting and camping out with his buddies.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, mother, sister Leora Spencer Mudd, nephews Ricky Mudd and Roger Mudd.
Surviving are his wife; daughters; grandchildren Shannon, Shawn, Aiden, Trenton, and Sydney; sister Eva Mae Spencer Mangert; nieces Judy Mudd Cordes, Kathy Mudd York, and Debbie Mangert Smith; sisters-in-law Marie Hurley Collins, Dorothy Collins Stanton, and Barbara Collins Keeling; a host of cousins, in-laws, good friends and neighbors.
Burial was in the Big Creek Cemetery on Monday, December 23, with Gary Paul officiating. The family has requested donations be made to the Big Creek Cemetery or the American Heart Association.
