Remembering Mick Spellman
The FHPL said goodbye to a long-time friend.
August 21, 2006
Mick Spellman
From the Dallas Morning News, dated Wednesday, August 23, 2006.
SPELLMAN, JR., MICK C. Died August 21, 2006 in Terrell, Texas. He was born on December 30, 1913, at the family home in Forney, Texas, where he lived the remainder of his life.
He is survived by a brother, Thomas E. Spellman of Brenham; niece, Mrs. M. A. Kuhn of Brenham and a nephew, Michael T. Spellman of St. Paul, MN. Mick graduated from the University of Texas, Austin, in June 1935 and was immediately employed by the Southern Union (Gas) Company in Dallas. He worked for that company for almost 42 years, retiring on January 1, 1977. During World War II he served (1942-1945) in the U.S. Army Air Force, 8th Air Depot Group, based in British West Africa.
He was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Forney and served as church treasurer for over 40 years. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the preservation of Forney history and was the founding patron of the Spellman Museum of Forney History.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, August 24, 2006 at Anderson-Clayton Bros. Chapel with Rev. Jerry D. Griffin and Rev. Thomas G. Wilbanks officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Forney. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at Anderson-Clayton Bros. Funeral Home in Terrell. Guest Registry may be signed at:, www.andersonclaytonbros.com Anderson Clayton 972-524-6417 Terrell andersonclaytonfuneral.com.
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Forney Messenger
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Mick C. Spellman, a native of Forney, died August 21, 2006 in Terrell, Texas. He was 92.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, August 24, 2006 at Anderson Clayton Bros. Chapel in Terrell with Rev. Jerry D. Griffin and Rev. Thomas G. Wilbanks officiating. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Forney. Visitation will be held at 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at Anderson-Clayton Bros. Funeral. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 98, Forney, Texas 75126 or to a charity of your choice.
Mick Spellman was born December 30, 1913, the fifth of six children of the late Michael and Carrie Huffines Spellman, who were pioneers of the Forney community.
Spellman is survived by a brother, Thomas Earl Spellman of Sherman; a nephew, Michael T. Spellman of St. Paul, Minnesota; and a niece, Mrs. M.A. Kuhn of Brenham. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Troy Spellman, and sisters Patty and Coreen Spellman, and Helen L. Wherry.
Mick Spellman graduated from Forney High School in 1931. In the ensuing years, he graduated from North Texas Agricultural College in Arlington in 1933 and from the University of Texas at Austin in 1935.
He was employed by the Southern Union Gas Co. on June 10, 1935, and was associated witht his organization for the next 42 years. During World War II, the company granted him a leave of absence and he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Eight Air Depot Group, stationed in British West Africa.
After his retirement in 1977, Mick Spellman enjoyed traveling extensively. He also took pride in maintaining the ancestral home, built in 1897, in which he was born and lived all his life.
Mick was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Forney, serving as treasurer for over 45 years. He was an enthusiastic promoter of his community and supported various organizations of civic improvement and historic preservation. He served on the Kaufman County Historical Commission and as a member of the Forney Historic Preservation League. He was honored as the recipient of the Forney Area Chamber of Commerce 1997 “Citizen of the Year” award. He was a member of American Legion Post 591 and received a Certificate of Continuous Membership for having belonged to that organization for more than 50 years.
