Raymon Howard Spencer

May 8, 1934 – October 18, 2018

A graveside service for Raymon Howard Spencer will be held October 22, 2018 at 11:00 at Eureka Cemetery in Hulbert, OK. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.reedculver.com

Raymon Spencer, 84, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, went home to Heaven on October 18, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. Raymon was born two miles north of Fort Gibson, near where the Arkansas, Grand, and Verdigris rivers meet. He grew up in the Hulbert/Tahlequah area. He married Betty Sanders in 1954 and went on to have seven children and nine grandchildren. He and Betty were married for almost 40 years and remained great friends and supporters of one another. Raymon was loved and cherished by his children, grandchildren, and extended family. He was very close with his four brothers Bill, Lesley, Wayne, and Allen and his “favorite little sister” Eyvone.

He spent 29 years in Rio Dell, CA, where he and his family moved in 1965. He was an active member and Deacon of the Rio Dell Assembly of God Church. He taught Sunday School for many years and donated and drove a bus to pick up kids for church services. He would wake up early on Sundays to read the Bible and prepare his lessons for Sunday school, then make a pancake breakfast for his family. Children who went to church with him will remember him handing out sticks of gum after services. He made lifelong friendships with many in the congregation, especially the Wilcoxes and Hutchersons of Northern California.

He traveled and worked in many states, including Oklahoma, Arizona, and California. He was a construction worker and a welder in sawmills, then became a Service Technician for Hyster Company in Eureka, California, for many years. When he moved back to Oklahoma in 1993, he opened his own repair service, where he worked until his retirement. He could fix anything mechanical, including cars and heavy equipment—a trait he passed on to his sons. He was always happy to help friends and neighbors with car repairs, errands, and anything else.

Above all, he loved to be with family. No matter how busy he was, he would drop everything to spend time visiting with relatives. He especially enjoyed Spencer-Hubbard-Clark family reunions and telling stories of the old days. Relatives will fondly remember Christmas mornings of him spending hours in the kitchen, flipping pancakes and telling jokes with his nephews. Over his lifetime, he made thousands of pancakes for his children, grandchildren, nieces/nephews, great nieces/nephews, and extended family. He would make special pancakes for the kids, spelling their names out in batter.

He was a cowboy at heart, who loved horseback riding, rodeos, and country bluegrass music, especially the ballads of Marty Robbins, Hank Williams, Sr., and other old favorites. No one will forget him singing “El Paso.” He also enjoyed camping, watching car races and football games, drinking coffee, telling stories, and playing dominos with his brothers, cousins, and relatives. He loved his home state of Oklahoma, especially in the spring when the redbud trees bloomed.

Raymon is preceded in death by both of his parents John and Leona Spencer, one son, Jerry Stanley Spencer, a daughter, Kathern Gayle Spencer, two brothers Bill and Lesley Spencer and one sister Edna Spencer.

Raymon is survived by Betty, two sons, Howard Keith Spencer of Coral Springs, FL, Ronnie Kent Spencer (wife Lori Spencer) of Livermore, CA and three daughters Cheryl Lynn Hamilla (husband

Joe Hamilla) of Sanford, FL, Rhonda Reneé Spencer (husband David Barry, III) of Longmont, CO and Angela Gayle Spencer (husband Peder Nelson) of Portland, OR. Along with his children he is survived by two brothers, Troy Wayne Spencer of Tahlequah, OK and Allen Spencer (wife Louise Spencer) of Checotah, OK and one sister Eyvone York (husband Doug York) of Tahlequah, OK. Among those being left behind are also his grandchildren, Ryan Spencer of Arcata, CA, Shane Spencer of Rohnert Park, CA, Sara Spencer of Portland, OR, Lina Kim of Ft Lauderdale, FL, Ben Smith of HI, Tim Smith of AK, Katie Smith of Denver, CO, Hanna Hamilla of Sanford, FL and Jonathan Hamilla of Sanford, FL. Along with his family he will be missed by numerous loving friends and the people whose lives he touched over the years.

From his kids: “Dad, we will miss you. We thank God for your life and your unwavering love. We are forever grateful for the family you created and the lessons you taught us. Your hard work, honesty, optimistic nature, and faith in God inspires us. We will strive to carry on your legacy and continue to make you proud. We can’t wait to see you in Heaven where we will all be together again.”