Oliver Spicer

Oliver Franklin Spicer, age 102, of Louisville, Illinois passed away at 8:17 pm, Monday, October 28, 2013, at Clay County Hospital in Flora, Illinois. Oliver was born Sunday, February 5, 1911 in Johnsonville, Illinois, the son of Bundy Spicer and Winnie (Garrison) Spicer. He married Emma Walters in 1935 and Emma preceded him in death in 1975. He then married Martha Smith in Louisville, IL on June 6,1980. Martha preceded him in death on January 15, 2012. Oliver was born in a log cabin in Johnsonville, Illinois on February 5, 1911. his parents were Bundy and Winnie Spicer and they proudly named him after his grandfather, Oliver Franklin. His father always told the story of the snow blowing in between the cracks of the cabin on the day Oliver was born. Later when he was 16 years old the family moved to Xenia and at the age of 18 he left home. As many young men of that time did, he went North where he got a job picking corn and was paid some place around 8 cents per bushel. Oliver later went to work in the Steel Mills in Sterling, Illinois. For a short period of time he owned a restaurant in Tucson, Arizona. After a year they sold the restaurant and moved to Texas and from there movec to Kansas City and once again worked in the Steel Mills in both states. Oliver was the first man to earn a $500 pay check in the mill in Kansas. After 42 years in the steel mills, Oliver retired and having lost his wife a few years earlier he returned to his home land. He and his brother lived together in Xenia until Oliver met Martha Farris. He and Martha married and lived in Xenia and Louisville and wintered in Texas for a number of years. Martha's family became Oliver's family and they enjoyed 32 years together. Oliver is survived by step-son, Richard Leon Farris of Louisville; step-daughters, Nelda Jean (Jim) White of Iuka, IL, Brenda Sue (Jerry) Colman of Xenia, IL; several nieces and nephews, Gene and Betty Pieplow of Xenia, Roy and Lulu Mae Rascher of Xenia, Rex and Betty Brown of Flora, Geraldine and Buss Foreman of Sailor Springs, Donnie and Gloria Brown of Kansas City, MO, Linda and Dixon Barfield of Germany, several step-nieces, step-nephews, step-grandchildren, and step-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Emma "Walters" Spicer, second wife Martha "Smith" Spicer, daughter-in-law, Lilly Farris; brothers, Guy Ayers, Eldon Spicer, Leland Spicer; sisters, Lois Brown, Martha Hammond, infant sister Nettie Spicer, one step-granddaughter, one step-great granddaughter, one step-great great grandson. Arrangements are being handled by J.W. Neal Funeral Home, Louisville, IL where the family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, October 31, 2013. Funeral service will be held at J.W. Neal Funearl Home at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 1, 2013. Interment will be at Oddfellows Cemetery, Xenia, IL. Memorial donations may be made to the Donor's choice and will be received at the funeral home. Memorial Tributes and Condolences may be made to the family at www.jwnealfuneralhome.net. Order Flowers

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Interment Oddfellows Cemetery Directions Visitation Thursday, October 31, 2013 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM Email Details Service Friday, November 01, 2013 11:00 AM Email Details