Gaylene Louise Spears
September 9, 1959 ~ March 2, 2024
Gaylene Louise Spears departed this Earth while surrounded by her loving family on March 2, 2024, at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas. Gaylene was born on September 9th, 1959, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Harvey and Verdena (Burwell) Springer. She was the second of four kids born into the Springer family. The Springers moved from Nebraska, eventually settling in Richmond, Kansas. Gaylene graduated from Central Heights High School in May of 1977.
After graduation, Gaylene went on to Kansas Wesleyan University, where she was a member of the pompom squad and majored in elementary education. She met the father of her children, Mark Spears, and they were married on August 18, 1979. To this union, four children were born: Deanna Lynn, Travis Michael, Tyson James, and Darissa Gaylene. Gaylene was a wonderful mother and kept a happy home. Her children remember childhood meals spent around the dinner table as a family, as well as trips to multiple basketball tournaments where she cheered them on.
Gaylene’s children and grandchildren were the highlight of her life. She recently retired as a para from Central Heights, her alma mater, and moved in with her daughter and son-in-law, Deanna and Brent Clark, and their kids. She loved living in Garden City, telling people she had moved from a trailer into a palace. Many bowls of ice cream were shared while the family watched their nightly game shows, as well as evenings around the dinner table with Tyson and his special friend, Amber. Gaylene also enjoyed spending time with her other kids and grandkids. Grammy, as she was known, never forgot a holiday or birthday. Her grandkids always looked forward to checking the mail for a special treat around those times, and they were never disappointed.
Another of Gaylene’s passions was education in all forms. She taught school for over 30 years, and then became a para for several years after retiring as a full-time teacher. All of her students became her kids, and she loved giving handmade Christmas ornaments to each of her students, made by her own mother, Verdena Springer. Countless adults from her classroom days now decorate their Christmas trees with these beautiful pieces. Gaylene always enjoyed hearing about her students’ experiences in her classroom, and she loved seeing photos of her “kids,” all grown up.
She was preceded in death by her father Harvey Springer.
Gaylene is survived by her loving children, Deanna Clark (Brent), Garden City, KS; Travis Spears (Tamara), North Platte, NE; Tyson Spears (Amber), Garden City, KS; and Darissa Butler (Chris), Yukon, OK. She is also survived by her mother, Verdena Springer; her siblings, Russell Springer (Carla); Verlin Springer (Kim), and Marcia Springer. Left to mourn her passing are her grandchildren, Maddox, Landon, Tegin, Tucker, Carter, and Autumn. She will be missed by her nieces, nephews, and many former students and friends.
Gaylene was one of the kindest people you would ever meet. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday March 12, 2024, at the Lucas Community Church from 5PM until 7PM.
Celebration of life services will be held at 10:30AM on Wednesday March 13, 2024, at the Lucas Community Church in Lucas, KS.
The family has requested memorial contributions be made to the Shriner’s Childrens Hospital and can be sent in care of the mortuary.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Rentschler Family Mortuaries Lucas Chapel www.rfmortuaries.com.
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