Richard 'dick' Spear,

Richard F. ""Dick"" Spear Jr. of Platteville, formerly of Berthoud, died January 2, 2008, at McKee Medical Center, Loveland. He was 63.Preceding him in death are his parents, Richard F. Spear, Sr. and Marjorie Jean Pettis Spear. He is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Ann Prior; his sister, Patricia A. Edwards; he was Uncle Riddy to his nephew, Blake R.R. Edwards; and by his stepmother, Maxine Spear. Dick was born on May 2, 1944, in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended and graduated from Fremont High School, where he was active in tennis and football. Dick was a Boy Scout who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He was in the junior choir and an acolyte at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sunnyvale, California.Dick worked as a Manufacturing Engineer in California and Idaho. He moved in 1984 to Colorado, where he went to work for Storage Technology. He worked for various companies in Colorado and was most recently employed as an OTR truck driver.Dick had many loves and interests. He was a Certified SCUBA Diving Instructor; a Dive Master; a licensed pilot; and an avid bicyclist, snowmobiler, motorcyclist, skier, photographer and amateur racecar driver.Dick was a volunteer Firefighter/EMT, and achieved the ranks of Lieutenant, Sergeant, and Communications Officer with the Berthoud Fire District from July 1984 to February 1996. Dick received recognition awards for Outstanding Service (1987), Employee of the Month of August (1989) and Letter of Recognition (1990 and 1993).Dick served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1964 to 1968 and was a Reservist thereafter.Dick was a member of the Masonic Temple, Garfield Lodge #50, A.F. & A.M.Dick was a loving individual with a tremendous sense of humor. He never met a stranger. He will be forever missed. Howe Mortuary in Longmont has been entrusted with arrangements. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Howe Mortuary Chapel. A reception will follow at Shorty's in Longmont.