Arthur Hartie Spence entered his heavenly home on May 23, 2024. Hartie was born May 11, 1940 to Raymond Lee Spence and Mamie Heard Spence in West Monroe, Louisiana. Hartie is preceded in death by his parents, brother Raymond Lee Spence II, and sister Lallage Maria Dilworth. His surviving family includes his wife, Nona Frye Spence and children Catherine Louise Spence Sokora and husband Thomas Joseph Sokora; James Stephen Spence and wife Monica Cecilia Guerra Gomez Spence, Arthur Hartie Spence, Jr. and wife, Kimberly Davidson Spence, and grandchildren Rebekah Lynne Spence, Arthur Hartie Spence III and wife Anna Blake Spence, Tanner Girard Spence and wife Meredith McWhirter Spence, Hyder Travis Spence and wife Anna Kate Tollett Spence.
Hartie graduated from Louisiana State University with his Juris Doctorate in 1964. After passing the Bar, he began a career with the First National Bank of Shreveport in their executive training program. His education continued at Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutger’s University, finishing in 1972. One of his greatest joys would be to serve as the President of the Louisiana Young Bankers Association. Hartie served as President and Chairman of the Board of Hancock Bank of Louisiana and President and CEO of Calcasieu Marine National Bank. Throughout his long and successful career in banking, Hartie was known for his exceptional leadership, guided by his faith and convictions. He also had a passion for teaching that came through as he instructed at the Graduate School of Banking at LSU and served as a lecturer for the Louisiana Bankers Association, National Credit Union Association Examiners Commercial Lending School, and other organizations. His leadership was evident as he served as President of the Louisiana Bankers Association and was on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
Outside of banking, he was heavily involved in many civic and community activities throughout his career in Shreveport, Lake Charles, and Baton Rouge. He served on the Board of Directors for various organizations throughout the state, including the Louisiana Baptist Foundation, St. Patrick Hospital, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, United Way and many others. He was honored as Volunteer CEO of the year in 2002 by Volunteer Baton Rouge Corporate Council and received the Volunteer Activist Award in 2003 by the Baton Rouge Speech & Hearing Foundation.
Hartie and Nona shared a wonderful life of faith and service. He served in his church as a deacon and Sunday School teacher alongside Nona for many years. They particularly enjoyed their time working with young couples and always were a source of encouragement and example to their classes of a strong, loving marriage relationship.
Hartie always brought a positive outlook and smiling face to friends and strangers alike. He was a most devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend. He will be greatly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers memorial gifts honoring Hartie’s memory may be made to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home 7200 Desiard Street Monroe 318-343-2244 www.lbch.org, Broadmoor Baptist Church Baton Rouge, or First Baptist Church Lafayette, Louisiana.
Memorial service will be held on Saturday June 22nd at Broadmoor Baptist Church, Baton Rouge with visitation starting at 9 and the service at 10.
