John Gordon Spears

John was born April 30, 1941 to Ellen and Ronald Spears. The third of six children, he was full of mischief. He grew up in the Leslieville area and later the family farmed outside of Bentley.

John quit school in grade 10 and worked odd jobs until he started working on oil rigs at the age of 18. In 1963 he met and married his soulmate Sharron Nixon. Together they had 2 children John “Jack” and Leah. The life they built was not always easy with him working away from home, but it was full of adventure.

He was hard working and meticulous. One day, while working on an oil rig, a chain broke and hit him in the face, completely ripping his jaw off. After surgery and a fast recovery he was back to work. This was just one of many examples of his work ethic and resiliency. Working in the booming oil and gas industry most of his life provided him with the opportunity to travel. John worked all over Western Canada, Venezuela, Dubai and Peru. Although he didn’t get much time to see the countries while working, he always brought home stories.

John loved the mountains and the foothills of Central Alberta. If there was a hill, he always had to see the other side. The family finally settled West of Sundre. This was a haven for him after being away for work and he often didn’t want to leave home. Together with his wife they raised, trained and rode many fine paint and quarter horses. There was always a yearly pack trip planned in the Alberta mountains for a week or two and inevitably someone would be bucked off.

His love of the outdoors included hunting and fishing. There is a permanent target set up on the home property and he loved to spend hours shooting and “BS-ing” with his friends and family.

He told many stories of his adventures, including;

-          Having to work on a pig farm as a teen; he always hated pigs

-          The time the family took a drive and got stuck and he had to leave Sharron and the 2 very young children for hours while he went for help

-          The time the family got chased by a bear

-          The 30 foot Anaconda that was blocking the road in Venezuela

-          Breaking his ankle while playing ball at night (too hot to play during the day in Dubai)

-          Teaching the grandkids to get back on the horse that bucked them off

He was a life long learner and took in all the information he could from history to environmental sciences. Reading was something he did whenever he could and was often the most intelligent person in the room without being boastful about it. John was a proud, quiet and humble man. He had a twinkle in his eye and quick wit. He loved to banter and could call you an idiot in the most subtle way that it took days to realize that you had been insulted. He had friendships that lasted his lifetime.

There are consequences for all of the years working in the hot sun and John struggled with skin cancer that eventually took his life. He leaves to grieve his loving wife, Sharron; his children, (John) Jack Spears and Leah (Tracy) Hayes; grandchildren, Jessica (Matthew) Koehli and Jamie (Megan) Hayes; and great grandchildren, Payton, Nate and Riley; his brothers and sisters, Charlotte Anderson, Jim (Kay) Spears, Laurel Vig, Lois Spears and Dan (Joyce) Spears. There are so many other extended family and friends that were loved by John.

The family would like to thank the Doctors at the Moose and Squirrel Medical Clinic, Kristy with Homecare, Chris at Pharachoice, Deana the AHS palliative care nurse, and Doctor Ward. Your kindness and support is immensely appreciated.

No flowers please, donations can be given to the Sundre Hospital Futures Committee in memory of John Spears, https://www.sundrehospitalfutures.com/donate.html.

A Celebration of John’s Life will be held Saturday, July 24, 2021 at the McDougall Hall, 4 miles west of Sundre on the northside of the road between 2:00 – 4:00 PM. John was a blue jean kind of man, please dress casual.