John R. Spearman

John R. Spearman, 89, of Pampa, died Friday, May 11, 2018, at his home.

Memorial services will be at 2:00 PM Monday, May 14, 2018 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Ruby Moultrie, pastor, and John Curry, officiating. Private burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.

Mr. Spearman was born Jan. 21, 1929 in Gray County to John R. Spearman, III and Ruth Melugin Spearman. He was a 1947 graduate of Pampa High School where he was in National Honor Society. He was active in 4-H during his youth and was selected to attend the 4-H National Convention in Chicago, Illinois at age 14. John attended Texas Tech in Lubbock and received a BS degree in animal husbandry in 1951.

John married Angela Dell Duncan on Dec. 7, 1952 in Pampa. A longtime Gray County rancher and farmer, John began his career at the age of 14, following the death of his father in 1944. At the time of his death, John had the longest irrigated farm in Gray County, having drilled his first irrigation well in 1956 after struggling with the 1950’s drought.

He helped to organize the Gray County Farm Bureau and has been a member since that time. John served on the board of the Top O’ Texas Rodeo Association during the 1960’s and served as a member and president of the board of trustees of the Pampa Independent School District in the late 1960’s. He was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church and was a 32^nd degree Mason.

He was elected as a director of the Panhandle Ground Water Conservation District in 1972 and served as president from 1980 until his retirement in 2000. John was committed to the concept of conserving water for future generations. In 1995, John and his family received the Farm and Ranch Award given by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, honoring them as producers of corn, wheat, and other crops at their annual agricultural awards presentation. In 1996, the Top O’ Texas Cattlewomen’s Association recognized John and his family as “Ag Family of the Year.”

John was preceded in death by his parents, and by a brother-in-law, Jay Reese.

He is survived by his wife, Angela, of the home; two daughters, Margaret Spearman and husband Steve Horn of Cheyenne, Wyoming and Melinda Stowers of Pampa; two sons, John R. Spearman and Jay Spearman and wife Janis, all of Pampa; a sister, Nina Reese of Dallas; nine grandchildren, Mindee Ferland and husband Joel, Celeste Locknane and husband Grady, Kristen Curtis and husband Tyson, Jaclyn Street and husband Cody, Jared Spearman and wife Lindsay, Jordan Spearman and wife Amanda, Amy Gamblin and husband Kyle, Reid Spearman and wife Kim, and Ryan Spearman and Heidi Schwope; 17 great grandchildren, Tyler, Macy, and Ivy Ferland; Will, Addison, and Traeger Locknane; Cameron and Corinne Curtis; Duncan, Gage, and Gracee Gamblin; Rhett and Rogan Spearman; Jack, Parker, and Slade Spearman and Sage Street; sister-in-law, Cynthia West and husband Bill of Round Rock; brother-in-law, Bill Duncan and wife Jenny of Plainview; a special family friend, Irene Estrada of Pampa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to John’s caregivers, Melissa Palacios, Joshua Mayhew, Tonya Garza, Lolly Reyes, Caprice Mayhew, Romelia Leal, Pam Dalton, and Tiffany Poling and the Interim Hospice team of Brenda Fields, Gail Bush, and Linda Bailey.

Memorials may be made to Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106, Interim Healthcare, 2217 Perryton Pkwy, Pampa, TX 79065 or to a favorite charity.