Dee Spraberry was born Jan. 15, 1902 in Anson, Jones Co., TX to William Alfred and Addie Lou Scott Spraberry. He died February 8, 1991 at Artesia Good Samaritan Center, Artesia, NM, at the age of 89 years and 24 days.Services were held at 9 a.m. at the Terpening and Son Mortuary Chapel, Artesia, NM on February 12, 1991, with Rev. J.T. Ross officiating. Dee Spraberry was a member of the Church of Christ. After the service he was taken to the Spur Memorial Cemetery at Spur, TX where he was laid to rest that afternoon next to his parents.
On Dec. 21, 1919, he married Grace Drury at Spur. To Dee and Grace was born Opal Lee Spraberry at Snyder, Scurry Co., TX on Nov. 18, 1920. They soon returned to Spur where he worked as a mechanic and invented the Wind Charger (to generate electricity in rural areas) long before it came on the market. With the aid of another man, he built the family home at 312 E. 1st St. in 1925 or 1926, and worked as a plumber. They lived in Spur until after May 1930, when they moved to Hobbs, NM where he continued to work as a plumber. He was a man of many talents. Dee and Grace separated in early 1931 and were divorced on April 10, 1933.
On May 4, 1933 he married Mrs. Lavine Mae Pyburn Lenning in Lovington, NM. She had previously been married to Tom Lenning, and they had a daughter named Geraldine, born on December 16, 1930.
Dee and Lavina lived in Hobbs, NM and he continued to work as a plumber until sometime after May, 1935, when he became the owner and operator of "Dee's Roller Rink" and they moved to Artesia, NM. Their daughter, Deanna Spraberry was born there on Feb. 7, 1945.
Later he was the owner and operator of a floor-sanding business, "Dee's Miniature Train Ride," and "Dee's Sharpening Service," from which he retired.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Olie of Duncan, OK, Arthur of Terra Bella, CA, Henry of Floyd, NM and Alton of Yukon, OK, and sisters, Ada Hamblen and Georgia Leverett.
Dee Spraberry is survived by wife Lavina Spraberry of Canon City, CO; daughters, Opal Lee Teague of Roswell, NM; Geraldine McCasland, of Canon City; and Deanna McCracken of Moriarty, NM; brothers, Hubert "Hub" of Brownwood, TX and Oran of Austin; sister Una Ward of Dimmitt; 10 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; 3 great greats, sister in law, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and longtime friends.
By Opal S. Teague
©The Texas Spur, February 1991
from the records of Lillian Grace Nay
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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