Ottie Speir, Sr.

Terpening Son Mortuary
P.O. Box 207
Artesia,NM 88210
5757462231
www.artesiafunerals.com


OTTIE HARDEMAN SPEIR, SR.

Graveside services are scheduled at 2:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, at Woodbine Cemetery for Ottie Hardeman Speir, Sr. of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Speir, 84, died early Tuesday morning, January 10, 2012 at Heartland Care Center in Artesia.

Michael Joiner and Rev. Rick Sullivan will officiate at the services.

Ottie was born May 26, 1927 in Madisonville, Texas the son of Charles Lucius Speir and Bessie Mae Pryor Speir. He was the son of a Church of Christ minister who passed away when he was six years old. He was raised in Missouri, and at the age of 16, he joined the United States Navy. In order for him to join, he had to eat several bananas to meet the weight requirement. He served on the island of Guam during World War II. He moved to Dexter shortly after the war. There he met Sue Barbe, and they married on February 28, 1949 in Roswell, N.M.

Ottie started his career in construction in the early 50s. Along with his construction business he also owned several others including a grocery store and a hardware store in Dexter, Hagerman, and Artesia. His passion was building homes doing business as O.H. Speir Builder. In 1975 Ottie and Sue moved to Artesia but the family always called Dexter home. He was a member of Hermosa Drive Church of Christ.

Ottie was the last of his generation of the Speir family.

Survivors include his wife Sue Speir of the family home daughter Charlotte Ann English of Roswell Son Ottie Speir, Jr. of Arteisa daughter Mary Kay SpeirHowell of Roswell 6 grandchildren and several greatgrandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Heartland Care Center of Artesia or the N.M. Childrens Home in Portales.