Alfred Charles Speake

Alfred Charles Speake, born on May 2, 1944, in Jackson, Mississippi,
passed away peacefully on December 15, 2024, in San Luis Obispo,
California. He was the beloved son of Helen Louise Speake (Garren) and
Alfred Galloway Speake Jr.
Charles graduated from Riverside Military Academy and attended Mississippi State University where
he earned a degree in accounting and economics. In 1973 he moved to Visalia, California and began
his career as a real estate appraiser working for the Tulare County Assessor's office. It was there he
met the love of his life, Mary Huerta. They married on September 14, 1974 and he became not only a
devoted husband but also a loving father to Mary's three daughters-Janet, Karen, and Katrina. The
following year they welcomed their son, Alfred Galloway (A.G.) Speake III completing their family. The
family later settled in Modesto, California.
A pioneer in the early days of home-based businesses, Charles designed and developed innovative
software that utilized data from county records to create real estate databases. This new company
became an invaluable resource by providing critical information for real estate companies before such
resources were widely available online. He loved being an entrepreneur and did all of this while still
working as a real estate appraiser. In 1992, Charles founded the California Association of Real
Estate Appraisers and was its first president.
Charles took pride in being a Southerner and loved his Mississippi State Bulldogs however his main
source of joy were his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Charles was preceded in death by his daughter, Tara Cox and survived by his dedicated wife of 50
years, Mary Speake; his children Janet Almares (Louie), Karen DeFilippo (Marino), Katrina Cabrera
Ortega (Martin Ortega), and A.G. Speake III (Monique); his brother Phillip Speake (Dianne); 11
grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at Old Mission Cemetery
Chapel, 101 Bridge Street, San Luis Obispo, California. A reception will follow at Chumash Village
Clubhouse, 3057 S. Higuera Street.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CHP 11-99 Foundation at https://chp11-
99.org/donate or the Valley Oak SPCA of Visalia at https://www.vospca.org/donate.