Dorothy Ruth Speer

Dorothy Ruth Speer, 90 of Ranger, passed away Thursday January 19, 2017 in Ranger. Services will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Eastside Baptist Church in Ranger with Rev. Keith Henson and Rev. Ronny Guess officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Edwards Funeral Home in Ranger on Saturday from 5 until 7:00 p.m.
Mrs. Speer was born on May 6, 1926 in Lueders, TX to Frank Clifton and Pearl (Cowan) Sorell, the oldest of three children. At the young age of 8, the family lost their dad in a fire accident. Dorothy helped her mom taking care of her very young brothers. The family remained on the family farm and working together they became a very close loving family. She attended Lueders ISD and graduated May, 1943. She attended and graduated from Abilene Draughns Business College. Passing the Civil Service Test, she worked for Dyess Air Base in Abilene until it closed. She worked for Stamford Flying School, keeping books on all the planes. She moved to Breckenridge in 1946 where she worked for Dr. Youngblood, Eye/Nose/Throat Specialist. She kept books at Western Auto for a short time. She took piano and voice lessons, and recorded an album. She was in a trio with Dorothy Burton & Loueva Loving. The trio won State in the Baptist Young Peoples Union. She was hired in 1947 as Secretary for First Baptist Church, Breckenridge. While working there she met a young preacher, Jerry John Speer. They were married on September 5, 1950 in Breckenridge. They moved to Abilene where they both attended Hardin Simmons University. Jerry & Dorothy began their hearts desire of serving the Lord through the ministry. 1951-1953 they moved to Paducah to pastor Harmony Baptist Church. While there they were blessed with the birth of their first child, Jesse Frank Speer. 1953-1955 they were called to pastor Elmer Baptist Church, Elmer, Oklahoma where their daughter, Rebecca Jo Speer was born. 1955-1958 the Speer family joined Barrett Missions in Pampa, TX. 1958-1962 found the Speer family serving First Baptist Church in McCamey. 1962-1965 they pastored First Baptist Church in Jean, TX. 1965-1968 they served at Green Hill Baptist Church in Snyder. In 1968 they moved to Ranger where they joined the First Baptist Church. Dorothy worked as church secretary, Women’s Missionary Union director, children’s Sunday School teacher, Church pianist, choir member and countless other jobs surrounding the churches they served. In 1968 she was hired as Secretary for Ranger Jr/Sr High School for a semester, then as Secretary for the Superintendent of Ranger ISD until 1970. 1970-1992 Dorothy served as Registrar for Ranger Jr College. She received numerous awards including an award by the Jr. College Students and Personal Association of Texas for Outstanding Service to Students and Contribution to Student Development for Community Colleges & Jr. Colleges of Texas. In 1985 she was awarded RJC Rangers “Winning Tradition” award given by the Lions Club and was awarded Honorary Navy Recruiter for dedication and support of the Navy Recruiting Command, March 1991. She retired from RJC in the Spring of 1992 after 21 ½ years.
They then served Eastside Baptist Church for several years. On Oct. 2, 2006 Dorothy lost her life’s partner after 56 years of marriage.
Dorothy enjoyed gardening, flowers, fishing, and cooking. She is well known for her famous “Pecan Pies”. Most important to her were her family. She is survived by a son, Jesse Speer and wife Lenora; a daughter, Becky Wilson and husband Rickey; 6 grandchildren, Lisa Morrow and husband Shane, Rickey Speer, J Speer & wife Mandy, Miranda Garcia and husband Juan, Tasha Haygood and husband Jonathan, and Candy Wilson. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren, Hayden Prosise, Jacob & Ashtyn Morrow, Tyler, Rikki, & Timber Speer, Tori, Brooklyn & Marli Speer, Jessa, Jayce & JettAce Garcia, and Sandy & Jerry Wilson.