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Established 1948    Clifton R. Spencer 1919 - 2011 Oudia L. Spencer 1923 - 1996  The Herald Democrat December 7, 2011 A Celebration of Life for Clifton Roosevelt Spencer, 92, of Sherman, who passed away on December 3, 2011 at Texas Heath Presbyterian WNJ in Sherman, were held Thursday, December 8, 2011 at Greater New Hope Baptist Church, Sherman. Dr. Rayford E.Malone, Pastor officiated and Rev. Wendell Williams, member of Impact Church of the Woodlands, The Woodlands, Texas delivered the Eulogy. Following the service Mr. Spencer was entombed in the Chapel on the Hill at Cedarlawn Memorial Park, Sherman, Te4xas. Clifton Spencer was the oldest of 3 sons born to the proud parents, Luke and Nolia Spencer on March 31, 1919. Clifton attended public schools in Frederick, Oklahoma and Clina, Texas before earning is diploma from Fred Douglas High School in 1939. Later in Life, Clifton met and married Ouida Weeds Wyatt, with whom he proudly raised one daughter and shared his life as husband, provider and caregiver for 48 years. He was a Man of God, devoted husband, a beloved father, son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend. Clifton was of unselfish and dedicated service to others in many aspects, beginning in 1937, at Southern Railway in Sherman, repairing roadbeds and layer ties. Clifton put his high school studies on the back burner, working before finishing high school in order to afford his younger brothers the opportunities to attend college. In July of 1942 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, proudly serving his country in World War II. He was assigned to the 183rd Combat and Engineering Battalion as Construction Foreman. He supervised 44 men in tasks of constructing buildings, bridges, roads and other Army installations before being assigned overseas for 15 months in the European and Pacific Theaters of Operations; He was honorably highly decoraged for good conduct and also received the European-African-Middle East Victory medal. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1946. In 1948 he bagan working for General Motors in Saginaw, Michigan and gave the company 39 years of dedicated service before retiring in 1987, and returning to Sherman with his wife, Weeda, to live out their golden years, until her death in 1996. Clifton had many hobbies and talents. Among them, he was a fabulous cook, a wonderful baker, a gardener with a green thumb, as well as a skilled carpenter. While in high school, he was a star tri-athlete, excelling in football, baseball and basketball; and continuing to enjoy volleyball weekly until his 60s. During his early years in Sherman, Clifton was a member of the Greater New Hope Baptist Church, under the direction of Rev. B.B. Neal. He joined Mount Olive Baptist Church in 1947 in Saginaw, Michigan uner Rev. R.B. Bradley and later, Rev. J.P. Wilson. He joined the Usher Board in 1959, where he served as President until his retirement. He was President of the Saginaw Valley District Ushers where he oversaw 20 churches and approximately 1,000 ushers. He authored several manuals and directed many churches on various ushering techniques and procedures to establish order during church services. Clifton also served as Sunday School Teacher, B.T.U. Teacher, Benevolent Offering Treasurer, Layman's Instructor, Deacon and Trustee in his service at both Mount Olive and Greater New Hope. Upon reaching his 92nd birthday on November 13th, he retired from those roles but remained a faithful and loyal member of Greater New Hope Baptist Church. On December 3, 2011, Clifton was called home to eternal glory from Texas Health Presbyterian WNJ of Sherman. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Nathaniel Spencer, Sr. and Luke Spencer, Jr.; sisters-in-law, Mary Frances Craft, Ruth Wyatt Reed, Laura Helen McKinney; brothers-in-law, Raymond McKinney, Harvey Reed, and R.B. "Sonny" Wyatt. He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter, Carolyn Frances Spencer of Sherman; nephews, Ronald W. McKinney of San Antonio, Texas; Raymond McKinney, Jr. of Phoenix, Arizona; Adolphus Sheppard of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Samuel Craft, Jr. of Houston, Texas; J.D. Walters of Sherman; nieces, Natalie Woods, Natasha Edmondson, NaTeenya Spencer, Claudia McKinney of Sherman; Martha Wyatt of Tulsa, Oklahoma; brothers-in-law, Joe Wyatt and Samuel Craft, Sr., both of Saginaw, Michigan; sister-in-law, Betty Jo Spencer of Wisconsin; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends, including very special friend, George Collins and very special neighbors, Chuck and Gloria Odell. All arrangements were under entrusted to the personal care and professional direction of Cravens Funeral Home,.  Cedarlawn Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |