James Aken Spears' Obituary
James A. Spears of Decatur completed his journey of 82 years on this earth on Sunday January 7, 2007. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Ida Genevieve Smith, Frisky the dog, two sons Capt. Mark A. Spears Kathryn A. of Fort Worth, TX. , Dr. Geoffrey A. Spears Carla J. of Murphysboro, IL. Four Grand children Kasondra A. Spears of Austin, TX, Joshua A. Spears of Austin, TX, Philip T. Spears Murphysboro, IL, Jason Spears Murphysboro, IL, and three great grand children.
Memorial services will be 3 pm Wed, Jan. 10, 2007, at the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home, Pastor Rich Wolf officiating; visitation will be one hour before the service. Military rites will be conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to: St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or First Lutheran Church.
Jim graduated from Decatur High School in January 1944. He loved playing for Coach Smock White at Pygott Field. He would tell of coach's old Desoto that they would push around the field he swore Coach White had the emergency brake on.
Jim stopped working in September at the Hickory Point Mall. He was the Friday and Saturday Security Officer from 11pm to 7 am, HE LOVED IT!
James like many men of his age served in the war. He dreamed of being a pilot. His color blindness washed him out of pilot's school. Jim's high ability level landed him in a special branch of the Army Air Corp in Airway Communications Systems. The personnel of Army Airways Communications were for the most part college graduates or very intelligent. After his training at Scott Field he reported to Europe where he was placed in a B-17. Jim was one of many stand-ins which allowed short crews to complete there 25 missions. He became a waist gunner with no idea of how to fire a 50 caliper machine gun. HE LEARNED FAST! The Commander died before it got on his record that he had 5 missions.
James was an Educator for fifty-one years graduating from Millikin University in 1951. His first classroom was in Tuscola, IL. Moving on to Hume, IL, Jim was a member of the first Masters of Educational Administration program offered at Eastern Illinois University. At graduation Illinois issued him an All-Grade supervisory Certificate. He and his family of three moved to Park Forest, IL near Chicago were Jim became the Principal at Monee Elementary, Superintendent at Sauk Village, IL. He then sold textbooks but his true passion was to inspire students and teacher. He accomplished this as the Assistant Director of Curriculum for Illinois. Jim wrote many articles on education and history for The Illinois Journal of Education, his most loved article was about the late Senator Everett M. Dirksen. Jim moved on to Ludlow, IL as superintendent and Principal of Cerro Gordo High School. Jim went back to the classroom at St. Patrick Catholic School and then to Northwest Christian School His last few years were as a substitute teacher for District 61. Jim became heart broken by the lack of administrative support and lack of discipline in the classroom. He was frustrated by the lack of respect and vulgar language so he left never to return to the classroom. Jim was always very pleased when a former student caught him to tell him, it was you who made me what I am! Jim produced many a Doctor, Lawyer and good citizen. That next to his family was his legacy.
The family of James Aken Spears is being served by the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home.
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