June Austin Spears Sr.

A resident of Kentwood, he died at 9:36 a.m. on Sunday, December 16, 2012 at his home. He was born July 9, 1930 in Amite and was 82 years of age. He was the widower of Ruth Ritchie Ott Varnado Spears. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who was known by many as "Daddy", "Uncle June", "PaPa June" and "Nubby". After graduation from Osyka High School, Mr. June joined the U. S. Air Force where he was a Veteran of Korea. He worked as a police officer for the Baton Rouge City Police and was a retired Boilermaker from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers NTL. If you needed a job, he was the one to call. And if you did call him, you better be ready to work! He enjoyed gardening on his old Cub tractor and loved to fish and squirrel hunt. With the help of his sons, he built his home using refurbished lumber from old houses. He is survived by 10 children, James Parnell Spears and wife, Lynne, Kentwood, William Bacot Spears, Kentwood, Jeanine Spears Stewart and husband, Allen, Gillsburg, MS, June Austin Spears, Jr., Kentwood, Leigh Ann Spears Wrather, Lt. US Navy (Ret.), Smyrna, TN, John Mark Spears and wife, Linda Ann, Osyka, MS, Linda Ann Brandon Kjos and husband, Ora, Helena, MT, Kenneth Varnado and wife, Mickey, Helena, MT, Alton "Tiance" Varnado, Jr., Kentwood, Culver Varnado and wife, Cathy, Helena, MT; 24 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; brother, James Monroe Spears and wife, Sue, Osyka, MS; very special friend, Mary Ann Day Cutrer, Kentwood. Preceded in death by wives, Jo Ann Blackwell Spears James and Emma Jean Forbes Spears; son, Austin Wayne Spears; grandson, Justin Englo Ballard; parents, June Bacot Spears and Nova Gill Spears Ott. Visitation at Greenlaw Baptist Church, Kentwood, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday with a Masonic Service at 6:30 p.m. and visitation from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m on Saturday, December 22, 2012. Services conducted by Rev. Gibbie McMillan. Interment Osyka Cemetery, Osyka, MS. Pallbearers are Bryan Spears, Jarek Spears, Chad Brandon, Connor Pezant Spears, Kaleb Lee, David Simmons and Logan Yawn. Honorary pallbearers are anyone that Daddy touched their lives. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Greenlaw Baptist Church. McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, in charge of arrangements. For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.