Carlene H. Spicer

Carlene H. Spicer, longtime Abilenian, died Wednesday, April 29, after a brief illness. A private family Graveside service will be held Thursday, May 14th at Elmwood Memorial Park with a memorial service in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Participating in the service will be Senior Pastor, Dr. Ray Miller, former pastors Dr. Bill Bruster and Dr. Phil Christopher, as well as close family friend, Dr. Timothy Cleveland, retiring professor of philosophy. A special section will be reserved for honorary pall bearers: current and former members of the JOY Sunday School class. Family visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 13th, at Piersall Funeral Directors, 773 Butternut. The family requests that you wear bright colors in celebration of Carlene.

Carlene Holder Spicer was born in Cisco, Texas on December 3, 1937 to Lois Ozelle (Gilmore) and Aubra Carlton Holder. She graduated from Cisco High School in 1955 where she was Salutatorian and Band Sweetheart. She then attended Cisco Junior College graduating in 1957. While there she was a Cheerleader and participated in numerous school activities. After graduating from CJC she attended Hardin-Simmons University where she majored in Music and English and graduated Magna cum Laude in 1959. Carlene returned to HSU in 1989 and completed the MA degree in English in December 1991. She was an adjunct instructor at CJC in Abilene before accepting a fulltime position at HSU in the fall of 1992. In addition to teaching freshman composition and world literature, Carlene served on various committees and was sponsor for Sigma Alpha social club before her retirement in 1999.

Carlene married Charles Lee Spicer in Cisco on February 27, 1960, and they lived in Abilene their entire married life.They enjoyed traveling to most of the fifty United States, as well as Mexico, Canada, Europe and New Zealand. Their favorite trips were those with their grandchildren as they each reached twelve years old.

Carlene is survived by four children, Connie, Cindy, Carrie and Chuck (Amy) Spicer, as well as six grandchildren, Hudson, Hope, Hannah, and Holder Biemeret and Hamilton and Mal Spicer, and one great-granddaughter, Halle, who was the light of her life. She is also survived by a sister, Janice Latham and husband Victor of Abilene, sister-in-law Sue Hill and husband Duane from Midlothian, special cousin-in-law Jo Cobb from Richardson, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-five years, Charles, her parents, and a sister, LoAnna D. York.

Carlene enjoyed volunteering and giving back to her community. At First Baptist Church, Abilene, she taught various Sunday school classes, developed and implemented the Bereavement Food Ministry, was one of the first women deacons serving in an inactive capacity until her death, and enjoyed several decades of singing in the Sanctuary Choir. She was well known for her nightly email of prayer requests that reached many across the world. She was also a member of the Harmony Club, the Twentieth Century Study Club and served on the Academic Foundation and the Alumni Association Board of Directors at Hardin-Simmons University.

In her words,

“If you must describe me, just say that my life revolved around my faith, my family, my friends. It has been my joy in life to be a “connector,” especially since email. I have kept up with my friends and managed to keep them connected, too.

I love Cisco and will always be a Cisco Lobo fan.

I love HSU and all its sports teams and music groups.

As Dado [Carlene’s dad] said, not long before he died, “I haven’t missed anything.” My life has been rich and full, and I have done things and been places that I would never have thought of in my wildest dreams. To earn two college degrees and to teach at my two college alma maters was beyond my imagination. I have met a president, been kissed by a movie star (Van Johnson), traveled to almost all the states in the US, as well as South America, New Zealand, and Europe. I have walked on an iceberg, skied down a mountain, been on a sailboat, climbed mountains, and relaxed on the beach. I have held and loved my four children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. The only thing on my bucket list that I haven’t done (and likely won’t do) is ice skate. Well, maybe I’ll get some of the grands to help me go a round or two at the Galleria in Dallas.”

The family requests memorials to be made to the Charles and Carlene Spicer Endowed Scholarship at Hardin-Simmons University, First Baptist Foundation, or a favorite charity.

If you are unable to attend the service but would like to watch it online, this is the link to the livestream provided by First Baptist Church Abilene.

https://boxcast.tv/view/carlene-spicer-memorial-service-oj86iotpi64k720bpku6