Bruce W. Spears Jr. was born on June 2, 1934 in Olean, New York to parents Bruce W. Spears, Sr. and Margaret E. Neenan Spears. He attended Portville Central schools where he participated in many activities including cross country running in which he won a state championship his senior year of high school. He joined the Air Force right after graduation leaving home in a blizzard and arriving to warm temperatures and sunshine in Texas. He often said, at that moment he knew he had made the right choice in coming to Texas.

One evening an Air Force buddy took him to a restaurant to show Bruce a girl that he was interested in. To his friend’s dismay, Bruce was quicker on the draw and asked her for her number first. This red headed, freckled face young woman from west Texas would, on June 25, 1960 become his wife. Together they would have two children, Margaret Lee Spears and Bruce W. Spears, III.

During his Air Force career, he would advance to the rank of Technical Sergeant in Radar Operations and was stationed at places such as Japan, Newfoundland, and Germany. He retired from the military in 1973 after 20 years. Leaving McDill AFB in Tampa Bay, Florida, the family made their way to Bells, Texas where they would make their home.

After his military career was over, Bruce worked at Gabberts Design Studio and Fine Furniture located in Dallas. He spent much of his time there setting up and servicing high end grandfather, mantle, and pendulum clocks in customers’ homes. When he wasn’t working, he was regularly involved in his children’s activities and sports. He could be seen on the sidelines cheering and encouraging not only his children but all children involved. At home, he spent many hours teaching how to hold a bat properly, shoot a basketball, listening to songs, poems, and speeches for recitals, working on race cars, and just playing games with his kids. He was a father figure to all his children’s friends, even making them eat all their vegetables when staying over for dinner.

When Grace, his wife, suddenly passed away in 1985, he took on the role of both parents, holding his little family together with strength, love, and determination. He cooked, cleaned, and helped his children heal from the loss of their mother. When grandchildren came along, he eagerly spent time with them, sharing his knowledge, experience, and love.

If you knew Bruce, you knew how much proper etiquette and manners meant to him. He taught his children and grandchildren proper table manners, how to shake hands and greet someone and how to conduct oneself with respect. These lessons will always be fondly remembered.

No words can completely describe what he meant to his family and friends. We will cherish his memory and hold his love close to our hearts. We will miss him dearly.

He is survived by his daughter, Margaret L. Hughes and fiancé, Mike Pruitt of Savoy, Texas; son, Buck W Spears and wife Connie of Bells; grandchildren Evin Hughes, Drake Spears, and Katie Spears, all of Bells; niece and caretaker, Linda Solly of Savoy. He is also survived by a sister, Wilda Johnson and husband Paul of Turtlepoint, Pennsylvania; brother, Don Loomis and wife Sally of San Antonio, Texas; sister, Emma Mehmel, and husband Tom of Hamilton, Ohio; and many members of extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bruce W. Spears, Sr and Margaret E. Neenan Spears, wife, Naomi Grace Johnson Spears, siblings Florence Spears Canfield, Bessie Spears Palmer, Stewart Bryce Spears, and Hugh Thomas Spears.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday January 19, 2022 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Mullican Little Funeral Home 754 State Hwy 56 E. Bells, Texas 75414. Funeral Services will be on Thursday January 20, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Mullican Little Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Bells.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to an organization of your choice.