Spencer Family Funeral Home

PAUL D. SPENCER
Paul D. Spencer founded the Spencer Funeral Home on August 9, 1932 in Athens, Michigan after several influential people suggested the need in the community. The current funeral residence was the former home of Dorr Waterman whose daughter gave piano lessons there. The house was built in 1912. Paul was a resident of Sherwood and the oldest of several children. Paul also helped his younger brother, Horace, obtain his mortuary license and they worked together for a time before Horace decided to devote the majority of his time to farming.

In 1934 Paul married Evelyn Roush Spencer, a Home Economics teacher in the Athens School System. Evelyn taught for several years before and after their marriage and then devoted full time to the funeral business. Their son, Thomas Paul Spencer, was born in 1936 and in 1942 a daughter, Joy Evelyn was born.

THOMAS PAUL SPENCER
Tom was very active in the funeral home business. He graduated from Athens High School in 1954 and from Worsham Mortuary School in 1957. He married Gloria Voss on December 24, 1960. They had three children, Tomissa, Paula and Paul. Tom passed away in 1989.

JOY EVELYN SPENCER SPOOR, OWNER/DIRECTOR
Joy graduated from Athens High School in 1960. She went to Worsham College of Mortuary and Western Michigan University where she received her Associates degree in 1962. She became a kindergarten teacher in Athens and finished her Bachelors in Elementary Education and her Masters degree from Western Michigan University. Joy taught kindergarten and head start, developmental kindergarten and young fives during summers. After 38 years of teaching she retired to full time director of Spencer Family Funeral Home. She belongs to a sorority and AAUW (American Association of University Women), Athens Congregational Church, the Woman’s League of Battle Creek, Retired Teachers of Kalamazoo County and Calhoun County. She is a life member of Michigan Education Association and a member of Chapter No. 59 Eastern Star and a past matron.

JAMES L. SPOOR, MANAGER/DIRECTOR
Jim graduated from Athens High School in 1960. He graduated from Tri-State University, Angola in mechanical engineering in 1964. He was employed as an engineer at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. He graduated from Wayne State University Mortuary School in Detroit, Michigan in 1973. Jim married Joy E. Spencer on December 24, 1970. He is a member of the local Lions Club and is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. He and Joy are members of the Athens Congregational Church.

In January 1991 Jim and Joy purchased the family estate after Joy’s brother, Tom Spencer, passed away on July 7, 1989. They proudly continue the traditions of Joy’s father with a flexible, compassionate and personalized service that meets everyone’s needs both financially and according to the wishes of the family.