Stanley L. Spears

Stanley L. Spears age 81, passed away quietly at home in Clinton Township, MI. Family members said he loved to listen to country music. He retired as a captain from the Grand Trunk Rail Road in 1991. He is survived by his loving wife Maxine and children Debra (Harry) Spears, David (Judi), Doreen (Mitchell) Poff and the late Deneé. He was the proud grandfather of Rhonda, Marty, Justin, Jacob, Jeff, Rob, Joey, Jennifer (Dan), and Julia. He was the brother of Sam (Naomi) Spears, Marlene (Ray) Roberts and was pre-deceased by four siblings. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3-8:00 p.m. with a funeral service on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Resurrection Funeral Home 40800 Hayes Road, Clinton Township, MI 48038. Burial will be at Christian Memorial Cemetery, Rochester Hills, MI.

Stanley L. Spears was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Stanley always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Stanley was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Stanley was born on November 17, 1931 at Highland Park General Hospital in Highland Park, Michigan. His parents were Cornelius and Mary Spears. Stanley was raised in Highland Park and Warren, Michigan. Always able to express himself well, Stanley possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Stanley was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Stanley was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Stanley was raised with six siblings. He had one older sister, Eva, three younger brothers, Richard, Sam, and Joe, and two younger sisters, Marlene and Linda. Stanley had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Stanley showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Stanley enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in basketball and baseball. In his spare time he liked singing while his best friend played guitar or listening to music and reading. Stanley's memorable achievements included spelling competitions.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Stanley was able to utilize these qualities throughout his life. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He completed his education through his Junior year at Fitzgerald High School in Warren, Michigan. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was English. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Mrs. Rebo. Stanley always excelled in spelling contests and had a knack for frustrating his teachers.

When the goal of college was in sight, it became important to Stanley. Again, his direct, “down to earth” approach served him well. He was able to absorb complex concepts and had an acute sense of how things worked. He graduated from Macomb Community College Police Academy and also Georgia FBI training.

Friends and acquaintances found Stanley an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Stanley was complicated but straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of his best friends were Harold Langford, his brother Richard, and several of his cousins. He remained best friends with Harold Langford and later in life, he became friends with Armand Hagopin, Waylan Spears, Bob Kubylas, Harry Lestie, and Butch McBride.

On September 15, 1953 Stanley exchanged wedding vows with Maxine Millicent Hihnala AKA "Ginger" at the Court House of Detroit, Michigan. Stanley was attentive to Maxine's feelings, and he charmed Maxine and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Stanley was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, Stanley identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Stanley was blessed with four children, one son, David, and three daughters, Debra, Doreen, and Dene'e. They were also blessed with nine grandchildren, Rhonda, Marty, Justin, Jacob, Rob, Jeff, Joey, Jenny, and Julia.

Stanley was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Stanley’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Stanley was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Stanley could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was as a Grand Trunk Railroad Policeman. He was employed for 32 years by Grand Trunk Railroad.

Stanley was a Navy veteran. Stanley was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He was in the Korean War but spent the majority of his two year enlistment on a destroyer on the Atlantic Ocean. He achieved the rank of seaman. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

Stanley enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were collecting movies, music and coins, writing poetry, reading and keeping up with world news. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because he liked to take risks, Stanley was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. Recreational sports included playing pool. Stanley was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football, baseball, and hockey.

Stanley was an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Stanley’s natural leadership qualities placed him in consideration for public recognition, earning him accolades for his many and varied efforts throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included the Gold Captain Shield from the Grand Trunk Railroad Police Department.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Stanley truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Myrtle Beach, Bar Harbor, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Traverse City, and Ironwood.

When Stanley’s retirement finally came in 1991, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. His new life involved remaining close to his family at home. In retirement, he found new pleasure in staying active, doing yard work, coupon cutting, grocery shopping, and keeping the kitchen clean.

Stanley passed away on October 12, 2013 at home in Clinton Township, Michigan. Stanley fought against small cell lung cancer. He is survived by his beautiful bride of sixty years, Maxine; his children, Debra (Harry) Spears, David (Judi), Doreen (Mitchell) Puff and Dene'e; grandchildren, Rhonda, Marty, Justin, Jacob, Rob, Jeff, Joey, Jenny (Dan), and Julia; his sister, Marlene (Ray) Roberts and brother, Sam (Naomi) Spears. Services are being held at Resurrection Funeral Home. Stanley will be laid to rest in Christian Memorial Cemetery in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

Stanley was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Stanley L. Spears.