Nelson Spencer

    World War II veteran Nelson Spencer, 83, of Holbrook, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, at Hospice of Arizona in Phoenix. The family will receive relatives and friends at 5 p.m. (MST) on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Faith Assembly of God, located at 311 E. Erie St. in Holbrook. A celebration of Nelson’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, at the church with Pastor Marcus James officiating. Interment will follow at the Holbrook Cemetery, next to his beloved wife, Lois. A reception will follow immediately at the church.
   He was born within the Towering House People Clan and the Bitterwater Clan during the winter of 1926 in Greasewood to Lena Elk.
   He attended Leupp Boarding School and Fort Wingate High School.
   At the encouragement of his uncle and mentor, Navajo Code Talker Harry Spencer, he left high school at the age of 16 to join the Marines. When he arrived at the recruiting station, he couldn’t find Harry; instead he came upon other friends who encouraged him to join the United States Army. During his service in the Army, he traveled throughout the Philippines and the Hawaiian Islands ending his service in Nagasaki, Japan. In his travels he boxed professionally, played chess, shot pool, threw darts, played ping-pong, played baseball and fished. His comrades enjoyed his penmanship and encouraged him to write love letters on their behalf.
   Upon his honorable discharge from the service, he worked for the railroad and traveled throughout the United States.
   When he returned to Arizona, he fell in love with his wife, Lois. They returned to the Navajo Reservation, where he was hired as a Navajo Police Officer, built a home and started their family. In 1959, during a high speed chase that resulted in an accident, it was found that he had tuberculosis. After an extensive recovery and due to his health issues, he moved his little family to Holbrook, where he worked 10 years for Chester E. Lewis at the Wigwam Texaco Station, two years at the Snowflake Paper Mill and thereafter worked for 25 years for Milton Phillips at the Holbrook Shell Truck Terminal. He retired in 1995 and lost his beloved wife, Lois a year later.
   He was a member of the Faith Assembly of God Church and Holbrook American Legion Post No. 37.
   His life was marked by his love for his family and friends.
   He loved to travel and enjoyed the beauty of Arizona. Most often, he enjoyed visiting the various casinos throughout Arizona.
   He spent the remaining 10 years of his life in Phoenix. His family didn’t watch the Channel 3 weather reports, they had Grandpa the weatherman, as he would accurately predict the weather each morning. He looked forward to cloudy days, and loved the smell of fresh rain and often sat outside and measured the raindrops, often wondering how much rain his homeland received. He participated in the family baseball games, bowling tournaments, volleyball games and entered various horseshoe tournaments. Most of all he enjoyed sitting under the sun during family events listening for the sound of joy and laughter from his children and grandchildren. Above all he was a fervent fan of the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Rattlers, Atlanta Braves and the Phoenix Suns. He was a kid at heart, always remembering “auld lang syne” (times gone by).
   He is survived by his loving family, including three sons, Herman B. (Kelly) Spencer of Show Low, Leon Spencer (Mary E. Cecil) of Tiss Tsoh Sikaad, N.M. and Arthur Spencer of Holbrook; three daughters, Kathleen Spencer (Reginald) Bain Sr. of Phoenix, Gloria S. Montoya (Ramirez Yazzie) of Holbrook and Beverly Patricia Spencer of Phoenix; three sisters, Nellie (Pete) Denetso of Greasewood, Evelyn Baldwin of Grand Junction, Colo., and Helen Allen of Flagstaff; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many extended family and friends.
   He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lois B. Spencer; his mother, Lena Elk; two sisters, Mary Lou Kinlicheenie of Greasewood and Faye Ward of Holbrook; his grandparents, John and Yanibah Cowboy; a grandson, Kenneth W. Brown; and great-granddaughter, Kimberly Montoya.
   Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow is in charge of the arrangements.