SPENCER, Houston Earl

Wickenburg Funeral Home & Crematory Wickenburg, Arizona Houston E. Spencer January 18, 1945 - August 25, 2011 Houston E. Spencer passed away August 25, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born January 18, 1945 in Pascagoula, Mississippi to Albert Houston Spencer and Norma A. Davies Spencer. He was raised and attended schools in various locations including Louisiana, Texas and Arizona. Houston served in the U.S. Navy and later returned to begin working as a contractor. Working primarily in the Southern California area. He came to Arizona in the 1990s and eventually settled in Wickenburg. He was a member of St. Alban's Episcopal Church and the St. Alban's Men's Group. Houston enjoyed fishing, RV traveling and the desert outdoors. He is survived by his wife Marilyn of Wickenburg and son Tom Spencer of Vancouver, Washington and granchildren: Amanda, Thomas, Christopher and Jeremy. Services will be held at a later date. ~~~~~~~~ The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ Wednesday, September 07, 2011 Houston Earl Spencer, 66, peacefully passed away Aug. 25 while in the company of his beloved wife and soul mate Marilyn, after a valiant long battle with heart disease. Houston was born Jan. 18, 1945 in Pascagoula, Miss., and raised in Winfield, La., and Phoenix, Ariz. He joined the Navy in 1962 and was part of the honor guard for President Kennedy’s visit to China Lake Naval Station. He served on the Kitty Hawk Aircraft Carrier during the Vietnam War. Houston was a contractor during the 1970s in Palm Springs/Palm Desert area where he built subdivisions, shopping centers, college campus buildings, and much more. He enjoyed telling the stories about constructing a security area at President Ford’s home, as well as working for a number of celebrities. He owned a small ranch in Garner Valley, Calif., and loved his horses and raising small farm animals. Houston moved from Phoenix to Wickenburg about 10 years ago where he met Marilyn who was a Montana snowbird. They were friends first, and then struck by sweet love in the autumn of their years. The next four and a half years together were tender and loving, and Houston blossomed with his sweetheart by his side. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, and Sundays always found them hand in hand at the services. The friendship and support of St. Alban’s parish brought Houston much comfort and happiness in the company of people who loved him. Houston loved nature, animals, fishing, and RVing with Marilyn to Washington, Montana, and the mountains of California, where he visited new friends, picked blackberries, and helped on ranch projects as he could. He and Marilyn returned twice to the Mogollon Rim, and drove down to Cherry Creek where he had lived for two years in the 1980s while trying to recover his health. He enjoyed browsing thrift stores and yard sales, and was an avid reader of Western novels. Watching the many different birds that visited his patio brought him a lot of enjoyment, and he filled a favorite tree with many wind chimes that became a chorus in the breeze. Houston was a kind, loving husband with a gentle smile who daily told Marilyn how much he loved her. He was a gift and inspiration to those that knew him these past four and a half years as he flourished and loved. He is also survived by his loving son Tom and grandchildren Jeremy, Christopher, Thomas and Amanda, and grandson Ryan Spencer-Boothby. Houston was always excited when he visited them annually in Vancouver, Wash. He also has great-grandsons Bradley and Anthony. Houston is also survived by his dogs Jack and Peaches, who he spoiled daily and encouraged a lot of foolish fun from. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in the fall. Donations may be made in Houston’s honor to the Memorial Fund at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Wickenburg. Friends and family may offer online condolences at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory.