Spencer was born on November 24, 1947 in Hayward, Ca, but visited his family’s homestead at Petersen Ranch, in the Fall River Valley, regularly from the time he was a child. As soon as he could leave home and work on his own, at 14, he fled to the Fall River Valley and eventually graduated from Fall River HS. Spencer and Jill married in 1969, moved to Adin in 1975 where they raised their four children, and Spencer could again be near his dream of the Petersen Ranch and all it’s rich ancestral history. Spencer was a life long member of the Fur Takers of America, a President of the California Trapping Association in the early 80’s and Trapper of the Year in 1981. He worked construction during the summers and trapped during the winters to support his family, always having at least one of his kids with him. Spencer was part of the Operating Engineers since he was 17, working for all the major contractors in the nation.
Spencer’s passions in life were being in the high desert while trapping in the winter, respect for his elders, family bonding, researching and connecting with ties to pioneer ancestry, building and landscaping his family home in Adin, after working a week away-coming home to a clean house and reclining in his chair to sit back and appreciate all he built. Spencer died with many projects left to do as he was an admitted workaholic.
Spencer is survived by his wife Jill, children Cory Fisk, Holly Krieg, Coupar Thomas, Baley Plascencia and 8 grandchildren, as well as brothers Barry and Remi LeMay and sisters Jan Watrin and Colette Stewart. Spencer was preceded in death by his parents Bob Thomas and Eleanor Bidwell Thomas as well as his brother Elree LeMay.
Donations, in honor of Spencer, may be made to the following: Adin Community Church for their Meals Ministry. They provided a weekly meal for over a year with love and dedication, and Mayers Memorial Hospice.
