DORIS EVALINE SPEARS, 90, a long-time resident of Orange Park, Florida, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by love on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. She had a tough childhood but that didn’t affect her negatively, it motivated her to overcome her insecurities.
In 1954, Doris met her soul mate, a handsome Navy sailor, Wendell Spears. He was the love of her life. He traveled from Pensacola, Florida to Meridian Mississippi every weekend he could to spend time with her. They were married on January 22, 1955. Wendell and Doris enjoyed each other, traveled the world and shared many exciting experiences. They enjoyed 62 wonderful years of marriage prior to his death in July 2017. Now, they are together in heaven and dancing on the streets of gold.
Doris and Wendell have two beloved children, Billy Joe (Ginny) Spears and Sandra Gail Spears (Tim) Matthews that survive her, as do her beloved grandchildren; Rhonda Price, Brock (Mary) Griffin, and Justin (Kelly) Griffin; her beloved great grandchildren: Shawn (Stephenie) Spiller, Donaven Price, Coleman Michaels, Cassady Griffin, Emily Watkins, Landon Griffin, Abigail Griffin, Hunter Griffin; and beloved great-great grandchildren: Kaylix Spiller, Rowen Spiller and Rose Spiller.
She is survived by her beloved sisters, Bobbye Faye Thrash and Martha Hopkins. She is preceded in death by her beloved sisters, Pauline McLemore and Jeannie Smith and by her beloved brothers, Jerome Clark, Etsel Thrasher, and Mason Thrasher and her brother-in-law, Ron Hopkins. She enjoyed a loving relationship with her bonus grandchildren, her bonus great grandchildren and with many loving nieces and nephews.
Doris was a strong, beautiful woman with an engaging smile. She always enjoyed meeting new people. She would walk up to a perfect stranger anywhere and talk to them like she had known them forever. She was an inspiration to her children and to her friends. In Hawaii, she learned the Hawaiian Bamboo Dance and loved to bowl where she became a member of the 200 Club. In Brunswick, Georgia she worked as a waitress and hostess at a Yacht Club before deciding it was more important to remain at home to care for and spend quality time with her two children. In Iceland she continued her passion for bowling and tried her best to keep her and her family from freezing! In 1969 after 14 years of traveling to different Naval Stations. Doris and Wendell settled in Orange Park, Florida.
Once she was settled, Doris began expanding her education. She had to quit school at a very early age. She decided she wanted to get a GED the same year that her daughter was graduating from high school, so they could celebrate their Diplomas together. Doris went further and became a certified cashier, a certified CNA, and finally Beauty School where she became a licensed hairdresser. She worked at the beauty salon at Moosehaven for a time then retired and gave her husband free haircuts for life!
Doris was known to be tenacious. Upon their retirement, she talked Wendell into joining the Loyal Order of the Moose where they stayed active members of Lake Shore Moose Lodge 2020 until their deaths. Doris also discovered square dancing and soon she convinced Wendell to become first members of the Moose Promenaders.
They persuaded others to join and helped them learn with patience and encouragement. She loved them all and considered them her family. Doris loved to go camping in an RV. She and Wendell camped and danced for 30+ years all over the country.
Doris was a passionate and loyal Braves fan. She watched them play for many years even when they didn’t win. Her knowledge of the team’s history was amazing. One of her greatest joys was the day they won the World Series in 2021.
In her last years, Doris loved to play Bingo at the Lake Shore Moose Lodge 2020 on Monday nights and at the Orange Park Senior Center and she loved greeting and spending time with the Moose Promenaders on Thursday nights. She was grateful for her many friends there.
She will be eternally grateful to Dr. Herman Sessions, Haven Hospice, Kim, Heather, Her caregivers Pauline, Tess, Shirley, Elsa, Rose, Maria and her beloved granddaughter, Roxanne, for the exceptional care she received from them.
Her celebration of life will be held on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL. The family will receive friends during the visitation at 9:00 a.m. and the service will begin at 10:00 a.m. Dr. Lynn Hyatt will deliver the Eulogy.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Haven Hospice Orange Park, https://beyourhaven.org/stores/orange-park-custead-care-center or Partners for Care, www.partnersforcare.com
Please post words of comfort at www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com.
