Mary Spears

1935 - 2025

Mary Spears
May 13, 1935 - March 12, 2025
Mary Emma Spears (nee Fernandez), age 89, a loving & caring wife, mother, grandmother & great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in Durham, NC, on the morning of March 12, 2025 with her youngest daughter by her side. She was born on May 13, 1935 in San Antonio, Texas, to the late Santiago & Juanita Fernandez. She was a 1953 graduate of Burbank HS in San Antonio. She met her future husband, Murl "Bob" Spears, while he was stationed at Lackland, AFB, San Antonio, TX. They were married on June 28, 1958 & had five children - Michael Spears, Susan McGaughey, Sharen Williams, Karen Spears & Robert Spears. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2011 & infant daughter, Karen, in 1962; sisters, Aurora Walden & Velia Buchwald; brothers, Alfred, Arthur & Jimmy; and nieces & nephews. In addition to four of her children, she is also survived by daughters-in-law, Christl Spears & Rukmani Ramdharry Spears & son-in-law, Walter Williams; and sister, Elva Barrientos and many nephews & nieces. She was the heart & soul of her family for not only the 23 years her husband was in the U.S. Air Force, which included several long overseas tours of duty that he served remotely, but throughout her later years also as a loving grandmother & great-grandmother. In 1991, upon retirement of her husband from Civil Service, they moved from Maryland to San Antonio, TX. Affectionately known as "Mamma", she was the proud grandmother of four grandchildren - Ryan & Karen Spears and Michelle Robinson & Nicole Payne and four great-grandchildren - Lydia & Roger Spears and Carson & Grayson Payne. She enjoyed traveling with her loving husband, being with family (both local & distant), being a devout Catholic, and rooting for both the San Antonio Spurs & the Dallas Cowboys. The church service will be at St Brigid Catholic Church, 6907 Kitchener St, San Antonio, TX 78240 on Wednesday, April 30th, at 9:30am and the burial service will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209 on Wednesday, April 30th, at 11:30am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or a favorite local charity.