Teresa Belle Spencer

Teresa Belle Spencer, 39, El Dorado Springs, Mo., passed away at her home on Sunday, June 16, 2013. She was born June 18, 1973, in Alexandria, La., to James Leslie Lear and Donna LaVaughn Spangler Lear. She married Robert E. Spencer on Nov. 21, 1994, in Nevada, Mo., and he survives of the home.

Teresa grew up in Sheldon and graduated from the Sheldon High School Class of 1991. She later graduated from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin with a degree in criminal justice. Teresa received her master's degree at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg in criminology with a minor in history.

She worked as a substitute teacher in Sheldon and lived in Sheldon most of her life. She attended the First Baptist Church in Sheldon. Teresa had lived in El Dorado Springs for the past two years. She was a member of the Town and Country 4-H Club for six years, she enjoyed barrel racing and won many ribbons and trophies in competition. Teresa was a fun loving person and enjoyed playing and winning in cards and was a loving wife and mother.

Survivors in addition to her husband, Robert, of the home, include four daughters, Abagail, Sheldon, and Victoria, Carrie and Gracie, all of the home; two sons, Jesse and Owen, of the home; mother, Donna Lear, Fort Riley, Kan.; four sisters, Tina Case, Fort Riley, Kan., D.D. Welch, Strawberry Plains, Tenn., Tonya Yates, Bartlesville, Okla., and Cindy Hudson, Amsterdam, Mo.; five brothers, Casey Saling, Pittsburg, Kan., Terry Lear, Tioga, La., Teddy Lear, Edna, Kan., Troy Lear, Joplin, Mo., and Jerry Saling, Boonville, Mo.; along with numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Jim; two infant children, Amy and Colton; one brother, Tony Lear; and two sisters, Tammy and Tommie Lear.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, at Click Cemetery, Nevada, with the Rev. Jerod Lamb officiating. Friends may call now and until 10 a.m., Thursday, at Ferry Funeral Home and the family receives friends from 6-7 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com