Mary Lou Spears
Age 91, a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away Sunday, March 20, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born November 23, 1930 in Gentry, Arkansas, the daughter of Daniel Cleland and Jewel (Osborne) Willis.
She was raised in Washington County Arkansas. Graduated from Cincinnati High School in 1949, where she played basketball, was a class officer, participated in the plays, was a queen candidate, carnival queen and member of the Glee Club. Mary and her sister Polly worked summers at the Gypsy Camp for refined girls on the Illinois River.
She married Billy Don Spears on October 29, 1949 and were married 68 years before his passing in 2018. She moved to Tulsa Oklahoma, as a wife and mom she took care of her family and home. She took her children to Eastwood Baptist Church and as we thought any good father would do, Billy Don added the potatoes to the roast for Sunday dinner.
After the kids grew up and left Mary honed her typing skills and went to work for Tulsa Public Schools as a teacher's aide, became School Secretary and worked last in administration at TPS Service Center. She found her love of cross stitch and has many framed and beautiful pieces.
Mary was loved by all who knew her and will be missed dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her infant son, Larry Don Spears, her husband Billy Don Spears, two brothers Harold Gene Willis and Samuel Willis, two sisters Doris Griffin and Polly Meade, and one grandson Joshua Willoughby.
Survivors include one son Roger Spears; one daughter Paula Karen Willoughby; six grandchildren Steven Roberts, Sammy Roberts, Samantha Roberts Hendrickson, Noah Willoughby, Zachariah Willoughby and Luke Willoughby; thirteen great-grandchildren; one brother D.C. Willis of Skiatook, Oklahoma.
Visitation will be held Friday evening at Luginbuel Funeral Home in Prairie Grove, Arkansas.
Funeral service will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, March 26th, 2022, at Summers Baptist Church in Summers, Arkansas. Burial will be in the Old Union Cemetery in Cincinnati, Arkansas.