Mary Ellen Spradley's Obituary
Mary Ellen Spradley went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on May 27, 2024. Mary Ellen was born in Gladewater, Texas on May 28, 1936 to Earl Forrest Garton and Ruby Zion Lewis Garton.
Mary Ellen married the love of her life, Johnnie Ray (JR) Spradley on August 31, 1956. To this union were born two children, Johnnie Forrest and Karen Denise.
She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and sisters, Shirley Garton and Marie Bell. She is survived by son Forrest and his wife Dawn, daughter Karen Aldredge, grandsons Blaine Spradley and wife Candace, Zach Aldredge, Clay Spradley and wife Megan, and granddaughter Kacy Bristol and husband Daniel, as well as 9 great grand children. Mary Ellen loved her family second only to the Lord.
Mary Ellen graduated from Gladewater High School and later received her Master's in Education at SFA. She taught second grade at Gladewater Elementary for many years before becoming the reading coordinator. She loved teaching and was loved by her students. She eventually retired so that she could spend more time with her grandchildren and travel with her husband J.R. They traveled to many different places around the country and enjoyed meeting new people.
Mary Ellen loved reading and studying her Bible and after retirement, would daily study and discuss scripture with her husband. Together, they taught Sunday School in the youth department for several years at Liberty Baptist Church. She later joined Spring Hill Baptist Church. She fought the good fight, finished her course and kept the faith. She has now received the greatest healing and is in the presence of her Lord and reunited with her husband as well as other family and friends who have gone on before her. We rejoice with her but she will be missed.
Her service will be held in the Mausoleum at Lakeview Memorial Gardens on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 10 a.m. The family will receive friends at 9:30 am prior to the service.
The family would like to thank Arabella MC and Heartsway Hospice for the care and compassion that was shown to our mother and grandmother during her illness.
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