Julia Mae Spence

Julia was born in Dodgeville, Wisconsin on August 5, 1961 to Gordon Rice and Josephine Krause. In 1972, she moved to Oahu, Hawaii with her mother and seven siblings before later returning to the mainland where she continued to reside throughout her life.

Julia became a mother for the first time in 1977 and went on to have three additional children in 1979, 1980, and 1985. Julia was independent and fierce while also being a wonderfully caring and giving soul. Her brilliance, quirky & unique personality, sense of humor, and infectious laugh were absolutely adored by her family and friends.

She had a passion for higher education and made the brave decision to return to school at the age of 31, attending Penn Valley Community College where she earned an Associate’s Degree with honors in 1994. She proudly earned a Bachelor’s degree with honors in Criminology in 1997 as well as a Master’s degree in Sociology in 2004 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). She spent the last 20 years educating the students of Johnson County Community College and Longview Community College as a professor of Sociology. She was well loved and respected by her students and fellow educators.

Julia was preceded in death by her only son Brian Spence, her brother Glen Rice, her previous husband & father to three of her children Billy Spence, Jr, and her stepmother Claudine Rice. She is survived by her father Gordon Rice, mother Josephine Krause, her partner Tom Reese, siblings Laura Rasa (Randy), Stephanie Wallace (Chris), Michelle Bowers (Rich), Christine Sackett (Tom), Denise Weaver (Paul), and Stephen Rice (Michelle), stepsister Vanessa Gentry (Gary) and stepbrother Bob Finley (Jeanne), her children Antoinette Spence, Bridgette Dipboye (Rich) and Cassaundra Wells (Dominick), her grandchildren Keely Spence, Spence Carpenter, Nolan Dipboye, Bailee Dipboye, Classic Wells, Dominick Wells, Jr., Journey Wells, and Demetrius Wells, as well as many nieces & nephews, great-nieces & nephews, and great-great nieces.

Visitation will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 12, 2024 at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home,10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131. Catholic Mass Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at St. Francis Xavier Church, 1001 East 52nd Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64110. Immediately following the service will be a procession to Mount Moriah Cemetery, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131.