Gloria Jean Spencer
- James Robinson
- Jul 12
- 3 min read
Our beautiful Mother passed peacefully out of this world on Monday, 7 July 2025 at her home in San Tan Valley, Arizona.
Gloria Jean Smith was born on the 5th of December in 1944 to Orrin Eugene Smith and Helen McIntire Smith in Alturas California.
Gloria grew up on a farm in Southern Oregon. She loved her Daddy and anything he did was fine with her. She loved horses and especially her horse Snooks. Cheryl Smith (Sister-in-Law) recalled “Gloria’s favorite horse was Snooks. She would ride her around the corral. Snooks had a mind of her own. She was a little bit hard to ride and hard to get her to go and make her mind. But Gloria kept at it.” She graduated from Klamath Falls Union High School in 1963. She went to Brigham Young University for two semesters and later completed an Associate Degree in Accounting from Yavapai Community College at the age of 50.
Gloria met the love of her life at a church sponsored dance festival. They were paired together and a romance began that lasted for more than 60 years. Mike and Gloria were married for time and all eternity on the 28th of May, 1965 in the Oakland, California temple. In fact Mike and Gloria just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on 28 May 2025.
Our parents brought 7 children into this mortal life and taught them the way of life that our Heavenly Father would have them pursue. They lived in so many homes it is hard to count. They lived in 4 different states, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Utah. Cities include Klamath Falls, Ephrata,(Where Michael was born), Redwood City, Tillamook (Where they were blessed with Michelle, Rhonda, and Janelle) Corvallis, Klamath Falls (For their final additions, Jeremy, Angie, and Ronald), and Flagstaff for the next 23 years. Then, as empty nesters, Klamath Falls, Chiloquin, Queen Creek, Yuma, San Tan Valley, La Verkin, and then back to San Tan Valley. Gloria always said “three moves are as good as a fire.” She and Mike and family lived in 32 different homes in these many cities.
Gloria loved spending time with her Grand Children and Great Grandchildren. She loved to do puzzles with them. She loved horses and dogs. She loved to play her guitar and sing cowboy songs. She loved to watch Westerns and murder mysteries. Mostly, she loved to be surrounded by her family.
Gloria was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She never passed up a chance to tell her posterity how much she loved her Savior. She served in many different callings throughout her life, and was faithful to the end.
Gloria is survived by her Husband Michael Spencer; Children: Michael (Val) Spencer, Michelle (Ian) Masson, Rhonda (Tad) Hanson, Janelle (Brent) Ruesch, Jeremy (Shauna) Spencer, Angie (Ken) Peterson, Ronald (Sheri) Spencer; 36 Grand Children, and 16 Great Grandchildren; Siblings: Mike (Cheryl) Smith, Sidney (Denise) Smith, and Rowena (Greg) Greenwood, numerous nieces and nephews, and her Sister-in-Law, Kathy Smith. She is preceded in death by her parents, Orrin and Helen Smith and her Brother Claude.
Funeral will be held on 12 July, 2025 at the LDS church at 32584 N. Gary Rd., San Tan Valley, AZ 85142. The Viewing will be at 10 AM followed by the Service at 11am.
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