William Vance Spiers

William “Vance” Spiers, died Friday, June 7, 2019 at the Elgin Nursing Home. He was 93 years old. He was to celebrate his 94th birthday on Wednesday, June 12th. We had planned to celebrate his birthday on Saturday, the 15th with many friends and family in attendance. However, God had other plans, sometimes not to our liking, but I am sure that he is enjoying this time with his family in heaven.

Vance was born June 12, 1925 in Picayune, Mississippi to William Alexander Spiers and Agnes Elizabeth (Pounds) Spiers.

He was one of eight children and is preceded in death by five of his siblings: Rita Penton, David S. Spiers, Nell Nixon, Marie Mitchell and Thomas “TD” Spiers.

Vance is survived by two sisters, Betty Jane Hamrick of Scottsboro, AL and Bobbie Haws of Antlers, Oklahoma.

He was married to Azzie Lee (Jones) Spiers for over 60 years until her death on August 8, 2010. If there is one thing that can be said about Vance is that he loved Azzie with a passion. Every day, for 61 years, he gave her a kiss, told her she was beautiful and that he loved her. She could be mad as a hornet, have her hair in curlers, be sweating over a pot a stew and he still saw her as the most beautiful person in the world and love of his life. He always introduced her as “This beautiful lady is my wife.” Now, how many people can say that?

Vance was preceded in death by a daughter, Patsy, who died at birth.

However he is survived by: Five (5) children: Step daughter, Flo Brenton (Jerry), daughter, Sherri Stovall (Wayne), son, Larry Spiers, adopted daughter, Bernie Lytle (Danny), and foster daughter, Acia Grey (Deirdra)

Seven (7) grandchildren: Candace Whitsitt, Ginger Brown (Zack), Will Stovall (Tracy), Shayne Stovall (Holly), Charity Spiers, Jonathan Spiers, and Benjamin Spiers.

And four (4) great-grandchildren: Matthew Brown, Michael Brown, Pandora Stovall, and Heidi Stovall.

Vance was not highly educated. He never went to high school, because he dropped out of school after the eighth grade to help his father run their dairy farm. However, he had a mind for numbers. And he taught his children the benefits of knowing your math. Vance was a WWII Navy veteran. He served aboard ship in the Pacific theater from February 1943 until February 1946. However, he told of the time he joined the Navy at the age of 16, after Pearl Harbor, by lying about his age, as so many young men did at that time. But, when it was discovered he was under age, his enlistment date was delayed to 1943 just before he turned 18. His time in the Navy was not without its trauma. For many years he had terrible nightmares about hand to hand combat” When asked if he needed to see a doctor, he would just shake his head and say “I returned with all of my limbs. Nightmares are not real. But if you wake up and you have no arms or legs, then that is real”. He eventually came to terms with the dreams by turning them over to God to handle.

After the war, Vance used the GI bill to get a Master License in plumbing. He was a plumber for most of his life, owned his own plumbing company (Manor Plumbing) until he retired. There were good times and bad times. But no matter the times, there was food on the table, a roof over our head, and clothes on our back. He always provided for his family. And, there was always room for another person at the table in his home.

When his health declined, he went to live with Bernie and Danny. One can’t know how grateful the family is that they would take care of our Dad, Granddad, Uncle, Brother, G-PoPo. Angels are not all in heaven because God sent two of his best to care for Vance in their home when he couldn’t care for himself. Vance and Azzie were devout Christians and firm believers that everyone deserves a second chance.

He offered jobs to young men who had made mistakes in their lives. He taught young parolees a plumbing trade. There are many young men who have turned their lives around, are gainfully employed, have gotten married and raised a family because of Vance’s dedication and Christian belief.

Vance also taught the plumbing trade to other young men, who wanted to learn a trade. As long as they put the work in, he would teach. Seven (7) of these men went on to become Master Plumbers.

Vance absolutely loved playing solitaire, and eating bacon. But fishing, oh how he loved fishing! He would drive overnight to visit his life-long best friend, Bob Whitfield in Picayune, Mississippi Every chance he got, he would button hole his grandson or a son-in-law to drive to Bob’s place and they would get in that little boat and fish all week end. When he could not get anyone to drive, he would drive himself. I’m pretty sure that Vance and Bob spent a lot of time just sittin’ and fishin’ without a word being said. What more was there to say when you have known someone for 80 years!...just needed to be in that boat fishing with your best bud.

Vance was ready to go fishing again with Bob, to hug his mama, to hold his little baby girl, Patsy, in his arms, and to kiss his wife and tell her how much he loves her. He’ll be missed by all of us, but without a doubt, we know that he is happy and healthy. What more could one wish for him?

Visitation 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Friday, June 14, 2019 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 South Congress.

Funeral Service 10:00 am Saturday, June 15, 2019 at Trinity Chapel, 5201 Martin Avenue.

Interment will follow at Capital Memorial Park, Pflugerville, Texas.