Jared Spears

Jared Spears was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned the B.S.E. degree in music education from Northern Illinois University, the B.M. and M.M. in percussion and composition from the Cosmopolitan School of Music, and the D.M. in composition from Northwestern University.

He began his teaching career at the Maine West Township High School in Park Ridge, Illinois. In 1967 he began his university teaching career at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He taught composition, applied percussion and percussion ensemble, orchestration and arranging, music theory, and music history. During his teaching career at the university, he received the President's Award for the outstanding faculty member of Arkansas State University, was appointed a President's Fellow, and upon his retirement in 1999 was named Professor Emeritus.

He continued a busy composing and conducting schedule in addition to his university duties, with a total of over 300 original published works to his credit. He frequently appeared as guest conductor for honor bands and lecturer at many schools and universities throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. His music was performed throughout the world.

He earned many awards, including the Award of Merit from Arkansas Chapter of National Federation of Music Clubs, Outstanding Educators of America, Who's Who in Music and Who's Who in the World of Percussion, and ASCAP Awards. He received citations of excellence from the National Band Association and was named an Arts Associate of Sigma Alpha Iota.

Following his retirement from Arkansas State, he moved to the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, where he continued to compose. He served several years on the board of the St. Louis Wind Symphony and was named their composer-in-residence.

Spears was preceded in death by his parents, William and Viola Spears and his brother William Spears, Jr. of Prospect Heights, Illinois; and his first wife Carla Brooks Spears of Jonesboro, Arkansas. His survivors include his wife Gay, of O'Fallon, Missouri; son Jared B. (Mikhelle) Spears of Jonesboro, Arkansas; daughter Marsha (Randal) Tidwell of Brookland, Arkansas; daughter Katherine (Samuel) Leach of St. Charles, Missouri; granddaughters Amanda Tidwell (Daniel Stevens); Cynthia (Justin) Tidwell Smith; Celine Spears; Emma Spears; and three great grandchildren, Chase Smith, Brooklynn Stevens, and Aaron Stevens.

In lieu of flowers, if anyone wishes to remember Jared, please consider a memorial to the Alzheimer's Association or the St. Louis Wind Symphony (https:// www.stlwindsym.org/).

A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, November 1st from 10am until the time of service at 11am at New Hope Presbyterian Church (1580 Kisker Rd, St Peters, MO 63304)