William Speer

William Joseph "Bill" Speer, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, March 29, 2015, at Southeast Hospital.

He was born Feb. 11, 1934, in Zalma, Missouri, to Chester William and Glenda Jewell Moore Speer. He and Lorene Mae Staples were married Oct. 26, 1965, in Cape Girardeau. She passed away Jan. 5, 2010.

William was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

He had worked at Inland Shoe Factory in Advance, Missouri, and at the former Marquette Cement Plant. He retired from Procter & Gamble after nearly 30 years of service. He attended the former First General Baptist Church of Jackson.

Survivors include a stepson, Harold "Rick" (Jan) Davie of Stoughton, Wisconsin; two sisters, Sharon McRoy of Alton, Illinois, and Kathy (Gerald) Payne of Advance; five stepgrandchildren; nine great-stepgrandchildren; a nephew; three nieces; and five great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a stepson, a brother, a granddaughter and a very special friend, Margie.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Fred Ritter officiating. Entombment will be in Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Memorial contributions may be given to Connection Point Church of Jackson or the American Lung Association.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.