1928
Elizabeth (Betty)
2018
Elizabeth (Betty) Spencer
July 23, 1928 — May 2, 2018
On February 20, 1950, she was united in marriage to Billy Dale (Bill) Spencer of Gibbs, Missouri, who preceded her in death on November 6, 1981. Her son, William Tracy Spencer, also preceded her in death. Tracy’s death in 1996 was one of the deep, enduring sorrows of her life––a tragedy she handled with quiet strength and grace. In addition, Betty was preceded in death by her parents, brother Matthew Thomas Ludden and sister Anna Frances Wheeler.
Betty is survived by two daughters and two sons: Janice Spencer Smith; Kevin Spencer and wife Patricia; James Kelly Spencer; and Joni Spencer and husband Louis Sauvé. She is survived by seven grandchildren: Sara, Mark, Jill, Dustin, Jamie, Abigail and Matthew Spencer; step-grandsons Jason and Adam Smith; and great grandchildren, Tyler and Parkerlyn Spencer. Betty is also survived by her sister, Mary Hoecker of Marshall, Mo; and three nephews who have been special to her: Norman Spencer, Charles Spencer, and Lynn Dodson.
Betty graduated as valedictorian from Brashear High School in 1945 and attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College. She was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Kirksville, Kansas City and Brookfield. She also worked for Harden, Cummins, Moss & Miller in Kirksville for 20 years until she retired in 1990. She moved to Palm Harbor in 1996 to be near her children and grandchildren.
Betty will be remembered for the wonderful childhood she and Bill provided for their five children. She also created a loving home in Florida for her granddaughter Jamie, after the death of Jamie’s father Tracy.
In Kirksville, Betty was a member of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, the Altar and Rosary Society, and the Piecemakers quilting group. After moving to Florida, she was a member of Saint Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church in Tarpon Springs.
A funeral mass will be held at Mary Immaculate Church in Kirksville on Saturday, July 21, 2018, at 2 p.m., with Monsignor David Cox officiating. Betty’s ashes will be laid to rest next to her husband and son in Park View Memorial Gardens.
Memorials in remembrance of Betty may be made to the non-profit Friends of St. Mary’s Church, a historic preservation organization, or to the charity of your choice. Memorials can be left at or sent to Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, 2100 E. Shepherd Avenue, (Highway 6 East), Kirksville, MO 665-3744 ‒ 665-2233, davisplaylehudsonrimer.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elizabeth (Betty) Spencer, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)
Mary Immaculate Catholic Church
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