Oliver Kelly Spears Jr.

SPEARS, JR., Oliver Kelly, age 83 of Maryville, passed away Monday, September 11, 2006, at Asbury Acres. He was born October 9, 1922 in Walland, TN. He was an avid sports enthusiast, he played football, baseball and basketball for MHS under Coach Bud McCall and baseball, basketball and football for Maryville College under Coach Lombe Honaker. Played basketball for Gulf Oil Refiners, a Semi-pro team that traveled throughout the Southeastern United States. He was a veteran of World War II Army Air Corps where he flew as a Bombardier in B-17's in numerous missions over Germany and France. Was a member of the 8th Air Force, 95th Bomber Group whose motto was “First over Berlin”. He remained in the USAF Reserve and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He co-owned Spears Furniture Company, with his brother Artie, which existed for over 50 years. Mr. Spears served on the Board of Directors of several Banks including Blount National Bank, First American Bank and Bank of East Tennessee. Was instrumental in the founding of the Boys Club of Blount County and Eagleton Little League. Served as a member of the Parks and Recreation Board, The Boys Club and the Industrial Board. He was also a member of the North Maryville Lions Club. He was preceded in death by his father, Oliver K. Spears, Sr., mother, Marjorie Blazer Spears and brother, John “Artie” Spears. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Barbara Smith Spears; son and daughter-in-law, Kelly and Donna Spears of Maryville; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Helen Spears of Alcoa; daughter and son-in-law, Melinda and Al Boling of Charlotte, NC; son and daughter-in-law, Tommy and Sandy Spears of Maryville. He had 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dan Moore officiating. The interment will follow in Grandview Cemetery with Military Honors. The family will receive friends from 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Maryville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern TN Chapter, 2200 Sutherland Avenue, Suite H 102, Knoxville, TN 37919 or to Broadway United Methodist Church, 309 East Broadway Avenue, Maryville, TN 37804. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Maryville 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com