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Cecil W. Spry

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Cecil W. Spry

Birth	:	7 Apr 1904 Wiota, Cass County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	8 May 1974 El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, USA
Burial	:	Ridgeway Cemetery, Ridgeway, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.9996986, -83.8705978
Description	:	Cecil Wilson Spry was born April 7, 1904, on a farm in Wiota, Cass Co., Iowa. His parents were Marion Wilson Spry and Ida May Carley. He had three sisters: Gladys May, Violet Myrtle, Emily Fidelia; and five brothers: Floyd Marion, Roy Melvin, Gale Raymond, Clayton Leonard, and Leland Orville. The family moved to O'Neill, Nebraska in 1909 when Cecil was 5. Four years later they moved five miles Northeast of Phoenix, Holt Co. Nebraska (which was about 23 miles North of O'Neill) where Marion bought a farm. Cecil had good and caring parents, but due to the times and... Read More	Cecil Wilson Spry was born April 7, 1904, on a farm in Wiota, Cass Co., Iowa. His parents were Marion Wilson Spry and Ida May Carley. He had three sisters: Gladys May, Violet Myrtle, Emily Fidelia; and five brothers: Floyd Marion, Roy Melvin, Gale Raymond, Clayton Leonard, and Leland Orville. The family moved to O'Neill, Nebraska in 1909 when Cecil was 5. Four years later they moved five miles Northeast of Phoenix, Holt Co. Nebraska (which was about 23 miles North of O'Neill) where Marion bought a farm. Cecil had good and caring parents, but due to the times and circumstance got kind of a rough start in this world. He was born with a cleft pallet and hair lip, which was not repaired until he was around 13. He was only able to attend school through 3rd grade. He lost his Mother at age 16. He worked hard on his Father's farm and grew into a handsome, gentle young 5ft. 11 1/2 inches, weighing about 160 lbs. man. Had dark brown hair, clear blue eyes and an endearing smile; with an inner strength. What he lacked in formal education, he made up for in observing and learning along the way. He had a natural aptitude for Math and could figure problems in his head faster than most people could with pencil and paper. He could not tell you how he got the answers as to a formula or how you could do it, but he nearly always came up with the right answer. He could read and write enough to get along, but was not a good speller nor did he have good penmanship. His practical and common sense allowed him to make a decent living, though he never got rich. When he was 19 he met Cora Lucille Stearns, daughter of Archie Leon Stearns, a neighboring farmer. Cora was born on a farm near Spencer, Boyd Co, Neb. June 16, 1912; She was 13. He decided he was going to wait until she grew up, and ask her to be his wife. The young people of the two families socialized together, dances, picnics, and community affairs for the next two years. In June of 1927 Cora turned 15. Cecil married her on Christmas Eve of that year, and took her home to live on his Father's farm, as he was still working there. When they left the farm a few years later Cecil tried his hand at many things. Working at a grocery store, running a movie projector, working for the State, working as a ranch hand, and driving trucks. He decided truck driving was what he wanted to do. He and Cora worked and saved until they could buy a truck. They were in business. Things went well for awhile and Cecil became a very proficient driver. He drove in the local Truck Rodeos until local drivers refused to drive against him. They said he was going to win anyway, so why bother. Then in the 1930's, luck turned against him. He had an accident, lost his truck and his license was suspended for three years. These were hard times for everyone. The economy was in very bad shape, and jobs were hard to come by. Cecil and Cora had started their family and there were children to be fed. Cecil did any kind of work he could find, sometimes walking miles and going without lunch to work at unloading the beer trucks at 50 cents a day. He would pick up coal along the Rail Road track, where it shook out of the cars, to keep them warm. In the mean time his Father fell on hard times and had to sell the farm. He was working in O'Neill as a carpenter. Cecil was able to get enough work with him to manage to keep his family going until he could get his license back and go back to his second love, driving truck. He was never fortunate enough to own his own truck again, but made an adequate living at driving for others. Winters are cold in Nebraska, but Cecil would get up before day light, walk more than a mile, sometimes with cardboard lining his shoes to keep the snow from coming through the holes in the soles, to get his truck and be away from his family a week or more at a time. In 1954 his job at Tri-State was giving out. There was less and less work to be had. He was hauling eggs from Tri-State Produce in O'Neill, to Valley Produce and Egg in El Paso, Texas. Herman Golden and Murray Cohen owned Valley, and offered him a job. He and Cora talked it over and packed up what they had and moved. Cora hated to leave her family, but never hesitated to follow her husband, and do what they felt was necessary for their family. They bought a house and a used car, and Cecil drove truck for Valley Produce until his health gave out. He drove truck for about 47 years. He drove in and out of 48 States of the Union and both Canada and Mexico. The younger drivers, just starting out, nick named him "The Old King". His last few years of driving was local hauling of cinders to build roads in the El Paso area. Cecil died May 8, 1974 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, El Paso, Texas. Cora had his headstone inscribed "King of the Knights of the Road." With a memorial stone in Phoenix, Nebraska, next to his loving wife, who went back to their first home area in Holt Co. Nebraska after he died. She passed away June 14, 1995. She spent her last years in the O'Neill Nursing home. In the 21 years between their passing, I don't believe she ever spent one day not missing Cecil. Cecil and Cora never had a lot of money to give "things" to their children, yet the children never went without anything they needed. They taught them the honorable way of life by example. If any man ever gave his all for his family, it was Cecil Wilson Spry. He and Cora left their seven children a rich legacy of Honor, integrity and love which was taught by example every day. Each child was special to them in their own way, never one more than the other. ------------------------------------- written by Lona Flowers (a daughter) _____________________________________ In 1927, Cecil was living in Phoenix, NE. Cecil drove a truck for 42 years. A local cattle run in the beginning, then long haul. He received many good driving awards. At the time of his death, Cecil had a drdive in 47 or the 50 states of the Union, plus into Mexico and Canada. Cecil died of cardiac arrest after surgery. Source: Vonnie Crider[Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2 L-Z, Ed. 7, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Apr 24, 2001, Internal Ref. #1.112.7.108093.91] __________________________ Dad always said that "next time he would have all boys, because it was too hard to keep giving his girls away."

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Cecil W. Spry's memorial?
Cecil W. Spry's memorial is located at: Ridgeway Cemetery, Ridgeway, Lenawee County, USA.
When did Cecil W. Spry death?
Cecil W. Spry death on 8 May 1974 in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Cecil W. Spry's memorial?
Latitude: 41.9996986
Longitude: -83.8705978

Family Members:

Parent

Marion W. Spry

(1878 - 1958)

Ida M. Carley Spry

(1879 - 1920)

Spouse

Cora L. Stearns Spry

(1912 - 1995)

Siblings

Gale R. Spry

(1916 - 1931)

Clayton L. Spry

(1918 - 1919)

Children

Bernard Cecil “Bernie” Spry

(1931 - 1989)

Mavis Lucille Spry Wiseman

(1932 - 2016)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Ridgeway Cemetery
Ridgeway, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9996986, -83.8705978

2. Osborn Cemetery
Macon, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0374300, -83.8512700

3. Aten Cemetery
Clinton Township, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0374610, -83.8937320

4. Lake Ridge Cemetery
Macon, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0335999, -83.8218994

5. McLain Cemetery
Tecumseh, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9714012, -83.9272003

6. First Presbyterian Church Columbarium
Tecumseh, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0041800, -83.9481590

7. Brookside Cemetery
Tecumseh, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0113983, -83.9531021

8. Holloway Cemetery
Holloway, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9488983, -83.9222031

9. Macon Cemetery
Macon, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0732370, -83.8511540

10. Spiegel Cemetery
Blissfield, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9150009, -83.8572006

11. Raisin Center Friends Cemetery
Raisin Center, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9286537, -83.9506073

12. Lenawee County Memorial Gardens
Tecumseh, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0109138, -84.0047226

13. East Cemetery
Clinton, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0705560, -83.9677780

14. Chandler Family Cemetery
Raisin Township, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9361900, -83.9815090

15. Union Society Cemetery
Palmyra, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8964005, -83.9002991

16. Old Saint Marys Cemetery
Milan, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0396996, -83.7388992

17. Saint Dominics Catholic Cemetery
Clinton, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0727348, -83.9763718

18. Riverside Cemetery
Clinton, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0746689, -83.9762344

19. Leib Cemetery
Summerfield Township, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9302510, -83.7546160

20. Rice Cemetery
Cone, Monroe County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0567017, -83.7352982

21. North Adrian Cemetery
Adrian, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9704400, -84.0235300

22. Raisin Valley Cemetery
Adrian, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9383583, -84.0061874

23. Benton Cemetery
Saline, Washtenaw County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1194000, -83.8677979

24. Deerfield Township Cemetery
Deerfield, Lenawee County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8927020, -83.7853110