Mike Spencer

EMCM Mike Conner Spencer (USN, Ret.), of Kennedy, AL, passed away September 28, 2024, at age 88, surrounded by his daughters at Hospice of West Alabama. Services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at Magnolia Chapel North with Rev. Tim Holder and Rev. Terrell Jones officiating. Military graveside service and burial will follow at Phillips Chapel Cemetery with Magnolia Chapel North directing. Visitation will be an hour before the service at Magnolia Chapel North.

Mike, or Conner as he was known to his brothers and sisters and people in Kennedy, was born June 21, 1936 in Ryan's Well, Mississippi to Elmer Lawrence and Ouida Bell Russell Spencer. He was the middle of 7 children and a 1955 graduate of Kennedy High School. He served 4 years in the National Guard and 22 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 1980 as Command Master Chief aboard the USS Dale (CG-19). In 1967-1968, he was a Navy recruiter stationed in Montgomery for the Central Alabama district and in 1968-1970 in Tuscaloosa serving the West Alabama district. He also retired from Weyerhaeuser in Columbus, Mississippi. He served the town of Kennedy on the town council and as mayor, starting the Senior Citizens Center and the Christmas light street decoration project. 

He enjoyed cattle farming, gardening, cutting his lawn and was a ham radio operator (WB4EKT) since 1966. He rarely missed a sporting event or activity his grandchildren were in, having traveled many miles all over the southeast United States attending baseball games. His great-grandchildren were his pride and joy in his later years. 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years at the time of her death in 2021, Irene Smith Spencer; by his parents; two sisters, Geneva (Rebe) McCullough and Nell (Mack) Wilson; and two brothers, Tryce (Lucille) Spencer and E.L. Spencer. 

He is survived by his two daughters, Sabrina McCool and Chrystal Spencer both of Kennedy; two grandsons, Ryan (Dallas) McCool of Vernon and Brad (Kaylee) McCool of Northport; a granddaughter, Katy (Stephen) Foster of Trussville; two great-grandsons, Ben Weaver of Trussville and Cooper McCool of Northport; and two step-great-grandchildren. Mason and Marley Jones of Vernon; a sister, Betty Barger of Cottondale; a brother, Donal (Arlette) Spencer of Tennessee; four sisters-in-law. Gracie Rushing, Barbee Smith and Linda Cunningham of Northport and Connie Smith of James Island, S.C.; and several nieces and nephews and extended family.

Pallbearers will be Ryan McCool, Brad McCool, Mason Jones, Ronnie Sanders, Patrick Phillips, Dwayne Smith, Ken Richardson, and John Hutchins.

Honorary pallbearers are the Kennedy High School Class of 1955, Becky and Tim Watkins, Jennifer and Danny Baumgartner, John Dill, Colonel James "Butch" Hildreth, Ted and Scharlon Pounders, Terry Wilson, Bob and Glen McCullough, doctors and staff of the offices of Dr. Dirk Berry, Dr. Phil Hemstreet, Fayette V.A. Clinic, Dr. Jeanne Lipscomb, the Millport Clinic, the staff of the V.A. Home Based Primary Care clinic especially Dr. Samuel Hand and Scott Thacker, the staff and nurses of inpatient hospice and outpatient hospice of Hospice of West Alabama especially Emma Shaw and Mary, neighbors and friends.

Flowers gladly accepted or donations to Hospice of West Alabama, 3851 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35404 or Phillips Chapel Cemetery Association in care of Phillips Chapel FWB Church, 19552 Morman Road, Northport, AL, 35475.