Claude Allen Spears

Claude Allen Spears, 75 of Boise and formerly of La Grande, died Feb. 22 at a Boise hospital after a short illness.

A memorial service took place Feb. 26 at Redeemer Lutheran in Boise. Burial will be at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery at a later date.

Mr. Spears was born Jan. 18, 1932, to Leonard and Frances Katherine (Berry) Spears in Eugene. He grew up and attended school in La Grande and later worked for Boise Cascade Corp.

Drafted in 1952, he served two years in the Army in Korea, after which he returned to La Grande, where he married and raised four children.

In 1975 Claude moved to Boise, where he met the love of his life, Maxine. They were married in 1977

After retiring from the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local Union 296, he and Maxine enjoyed traveling all over the world and spending winters with friends in Lake Hasvasu City, Ariz.

Claude was a member of the worldwide fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. He was a regular at meetings whether at home or traveling. He attended meetings in nearly every state as well as Canada, Australia and Brazil, and he and Maxine attended national and international AA conventions.

Claude loved the outdoors, especially picking berries or mushrooms, fishing and hunting elk or deer.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Maxine; children and their spouses, Jim and Susan Spears of Union, Jerry Spears of Portland, Judy and Joe Lucias of La Grande and Janet Spears of Bend; three stepchildren and their spouses, Keith Nelson of Yakima, Wash., Kari and Fred Haines of Boise and Kristi Nelson of Tunisia, Africa; and his eighth daughter, Akberet Mehertab of Boise; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; siblings and their spouses, Wayne and Eda Spears of Seattle, Merle "Bud" and Shirley Spears of La Grande, Leonard and Gloria Spears of La Grande, Derrill Spears of Boise, Miriam and David Griffiths of Caldwell, Idaho, Harriet Kay and Jay Crist of Tacoma, Wash., and Ellen Bishop of Reno, Nev.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Boise Rescue Mission or a favorite charity.