Funeral services were conducted Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. for Nathan Frank Speer, age 60, pioneer Dickens merchant, who succumbed at 7 p.m. Tuesday night. Bro. Norvell Young of Lubbock, assisted by C.V. Allen of Spur, conducted the services in the Dickens Church of Christ.
Interment was in the Dickens Cemetery under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home.
Mr. Speer had been a resident of Dickens County for 57 years, having moved to Dickens in 1891. He was married to the former Lela Mae Law in 1911. He taught in the county schools for 18 years, nine years of which he served as superintendent of the Dickens Schools. He was appointed as County Superintendent in 1928 and served until 1930. For the past several years he had operated a general merchandise store in Dickens.
The deceased is survived by his wife, one son, Leo Speer of Dickens, three daughters, Mrs. Leroy Hooker, Tulsa, Okla., Mrs. Ferrell Burford, Van Nuys, Calif., and Mrs. Melvin Bivens who is with her husband in Guam, three brothers, J.B. of Alpine, Joe of Flomot, and John of Lubbock, his mother, Mrs. Clarissa Speer, Beaumont [Flomot], and six grandchildren.
©The Texas Spur, November 18, 1948
Transcribed June 5, 2005 by DCHC membersNOTE: Frank Speer was a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent of Dickens Schools. First mayor of Dickens, Texas.
Graveside services for Lela Mae Speer, 93, of Albuquerque, NM, will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Dickens Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Fikes, pastor of Monterey Baptist Church, officiating.
Burial will be under direction of Resthaven Funeral Home.
She died Tuesday at her residence after a lengthy illness. She had been under a doctor's care.
She was born in Dickens County and moved to Albuquerque in 1980. She owned and operated Red and White Grocery Store in Dickens for more than 30 years. She married Frank Speer on July 7, 1912, in Dickens. He died in 1948. She was a member of the Church of Christ. Two sons, Frank Jr. and Leo, preceded her in death. Two daughters, Anibel Hooker and Lois Burford, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include a daughter, Francis Bivens of Albuquerque; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren.
©The Texas Spur, 1989
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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