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Bernice R. Spears
Date of Birth: March 10, 1918
Date of Death: January 5, 2004

Interment: Rochelle Cemetery

Pallbearers:
Vicki Wolford; Denise Klemens; Kathy Daiels; Lisa Bowman' Ashley Spears; Mary Spears; Leigh Ann Spears; Lynn Spears; Penny Spears

OBITUARY

Bernice Spears, age 85, formerly of Tampico and Deer Grove, Illinois, died Monday, January 5, 2004, at Cor Mariae Provena Nursing Center in Rockford, Illinois.

Mrs. Spears was born on March 10, 1918, in Wayne City, Illinois, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Richardson) Beardin. She was united in marriage to Otho K. Spears on March 27, 1937 in Rochelle, Illinois. He preceded her in death on July 29, 2003. She was a postmaster in Deer Grove, Illinois, for 14 years and drove a school bus. She also helped her husband on the farm near Deer Grove, Illinois, for 35 years. She was a member of the Tampico United Methodist Church, the UMW at the Church, Tampico Historical Society, and th Tampico Area Community Building. She was also a member of the Illinois Postmaster's Association.

She is survived by one daughter, Nadine Miller of Grand Rapids, Michigan; three sons, Ronald (Paulette) Spears of West Bend, Wisconsin; DeWayne (Chong Hui) Spears of Rockford, Illinois, Merwin  (Frances) Spears of Fort Myers, Florida; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three step=great=grandchildren; one brother, C W. "Winne" (Carol) Beardin of Rochelle, Illinois; two sisters, Fern (Rex) Casey of Ashton, Illinois and Katie (Lloyd) Stroud, Jr., of Rochelle, Illinois, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers, and one sister.

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Tampico Methodist Church with the Rev. John McFarland, pastor officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at the Rochelle Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Visitation will be held on Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Garland Funeral Home in Tampico. A memorial has been established in her memory to the Tampico Area Community Building and the American Heart Association.