He was born on February 14, 1940 in Bowie, Texas to Robert Dewey Speake and Lillian Inez (Standard) Speake. He graduated from Bowie High School in May of 1959. After high school, he got a job as a telegrapher for the Rock Island Railroad and later became a dispatcher for the same railroad. He would spend the next 43 years working for one railroad or another.
On January 20, 1964 he married the love of his life, Hope (Ruby) Rivera.
John was welcomed home to Heaven not only by God, but by his beloved wife Hope (Ruby) Speake, brother Robert LeRoy Speake, his parents, and two grandbabies.
He is survived by his children Roger (Sheila) Speake of Lee's Summit, Missouri and Tammy (Christopher) Groves of Rapid City, South Dakota, sister Ann Dillard of Irving, Texas, three granddaughters, three grandsons, three great-granddaughters, a slew of nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Our daddy was also survived by a neighborhood of friends who loved him like family as well. He was dubbed "the neighborhood's grandpa".
