Audrey Speer

Audrey Speer, 97, of Macomb, formerly of Table Grove, died at 7:10 am, January 11 at Wesley Village Health Care Center in Macomb, IL.

She was born October 21, 1920 in Dahlgren, IL, the 2nd daughter of Robert W. and Noma Turner Rawls. She married Creel Speer on Aug. 23, 1941 in Bushnell. They were married 73 years at the time of Creel’s death in Oct. 2014 and over 60 of those years were in Table Grove.

Creel and Audrey have 4 children – all surviving – Carol (Doug) Baily of Macomb, Marilyn (Bob) Hurt of Dakota, MN, Tom (Sara) Speer of Gulf Breeze, FL, and Amy (Steve) Ruebush of Blandinsville, In addition there are 6 grandchildren: Sabrina Hurt (Chris) Morganton, NC, Quinton Baily (Katy) Chicago, Bronson Hurt Dakota, MN, Stephanie Brown (Matt) Mobile, AL, Elizabeth Oblinger (Mike) Coventry, CT and Alex Ruebush (Katie) Colchester, IL. and 5 great- grandchildren, Sadie Hanger, Evan Brown, Sara Beth Brown, Quinn Oblinger, and Miles Oblinger. She’s also survived by one sister-in-law, Dana Speer of Table Grove and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and 2 sisters, Lurene Twaddle and Magnolia Hageman, and a nephew, Stan Twaddle.

Audrey’s family moved from Dahlgren to Decatur to Evansville, IN and finally to Bushnell where Audrey graduated from high school with the class of ’38. She began playing the piano at age 6 and became quite accomplished performing with her sisters in a string trio. She attended Western “State” (now WIU) and began teaching school at the one room Sperry Rural School south of Bushnell where she taught grades K-8.

She always loved children and teaching and spent over 50 years teaching hundreds of area students to play the piano. She was an active member of the Table Grove Community Church where she and Creel became members in 1949. She played the organ there well into her 90th year of life and at one time di-rected the church choir as well as assisted with numerous chicken pie suppers and other church dinners. Music, baking, and family filled her life. She was a 60+ yr. member of Chapter C of the P.E.O. Sisterhood where she had served as chaplain and other offices. She played bridge with the Table Grove Fortnightly Club.

She loved to bake pies, make toffee and peanut brittle and entertain her grandchildren in the Speer swimming pool.

Upon moving to Wesley Village estates, she frequently played the piano for Vesper services and other events. She continued playing her piano in her Wesley apartment.

Her family and friends will celebrate her life with a visitation at 9:30 a.m. and a service at 11:00 am on Monday, January 15 at the Table Grove Community Church. Pastor Tim Lindsey will officiate. All who knew her are encouraged to attend. Burial will follow at Harris Cemetery in Table Grove. Memorials may be made to MDH Hospice and the Table Grove Community Church.