Official Obituary of
John B. Speer
March 21, 1934 ~ July 25, 2020 (age 86) 86 Years Old
John Speer Obituary
John B. Speer, age 86, of Slippery Rock passed away Saturday, July 25, 2020 at AHN Grove City of complications following hip replacement surgery.
John was born March 21, 1934 in Harrisville. He was the son of the late William Kennedy Speer and the late Kathleen Ruth Hogue Speer. John attended Harrisville High School and later graduated from Slippery Rock Area High School in1952. He was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church. His vocation was a machinist, at Cooper Bessemer in Grove City and he also was part of the management team as well. John was active in his community as a participant in the Harrisville Community Band, serving as director from 1970-1971, as a Past Master of Cedar Lodge 800 Masonic Lodge in Grove City, and as one of the organizers and early officers of the Slippery Rock Alumni Association.
John was very passionate about camping and boating on the Allegheny River near Kittanning. In his retirement he claimed he was assigned from Memorial Day to Labor Day as a river watch special agent. If the river was to ever start to flow backwards, he was to report to the home office of the National Park and Recreation Department. He performed the task very well, rarely missing a weekend at the river.
John is survived by one daughter, Kathleen (Buzz)Canady of WY; one son, Kenneth W. Speer of Slippery Rock; four grandchildren, six great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. Three sisters, Ruth Ella Jaskol, of Grove City, Janet Barnes, of Harrisville and Mary Frances Parry of Austintown; one brother, David(Andrea)Speer of New Castle DE; one sister-in-law, Gladys Speer of Slippery Rock and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.
John is preceded in death by his wife, Garnet P. McDeavitt Speer, whom he married March 21, 1953 and who died September 29, 2013 and one brother, William A. Speer.
Due to the current COVID Pandemic a Celebration of Life service will be held at a date and time to be determined.
The family suggests that memorial donations be made support the research and the cure for dementia at the Center for Dementia Research, Nathan S. Kline Institute, 14 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10692.
1934
John was born March 21, 1934 in Harrisville. He was the son of the late William Kennedy Speer and the late Kathleen Ruth Hogue Speer. John attended Harrisville High School and later graduated from Slippery Rock Area High School in1952. He was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church. His vocation was a machinist, at Cooper Bessemer in Grove City and he also was part of the management team as well. John was active in his community as a participant in the Harrisville Community Band, serving as director from 1970-1971, as a Past Master of Cedar Lodge 800 Masonic Lodge in Grove City, and as one of the organizers and early officers of the Slippery Rock Alumni Association.
John was very passionate about camping and boating on the Allegheny River near Kittanning. In his retirement he claimed he was assigned from Memorial Day to Labor Day as a river watch special agent. If the river was to ever start to flow backwards, he was to report to the home office of the National Park and Recreation Department. He performed the task very well, rarely missing a weekend at the river.
John is survived by one daughter, Kathleen (Buzz)Canady of WY; one son, Kenneth W. Speer of Slippery Rock; four grandchildren, six great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. Three sisters, Ruth Ella Jaskol, of Grove City, Janet Barnes, of Harrisville and Mary Frances Parry of Austintown; one brother, David(Andrea)Speer of New Castle DE; one sister-in-law, Gladys Speer of Slippery Rock and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.
John is preceded in death by his wife, Garnet P. McDeavitt Speer, whom he married March 21, 1953 and who died September 29, 2013 and one brother, William A. Speer.
Due to the current COVID Pandemic a Celebration of Life service will be held at a date and time to be determined.
The family suggests that memorial donations be made support the research and the cure for dementia at the Center for Dementia Research, Nathan S. Kline Institute, 14 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10692.
1934
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Services
Celebration of Life at a Later Date
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