Chad Alan Speer

Chad Alan Speer, 47, of Arkansas City, passed away Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, at his home.

His wishes for cremation have been effected. A family and friends celebration of life service will follow at a later date. Shelley Family Funeral Home of Arkansas City is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with Cowley County Humane Society and can be made through the funeral home.  

Chad was born June 24, 1971, in Winfield, to Ralph Speer and the late Kathy McMillan-Tolles. He was raised in Arkansas City, graduating with the Bulldog Class of 1989. He started a lifetime career of auto repair immediately after graduation and started as parts manager in 1997 with Reedy Ford in Arkansas City, advancing to service manager at the time of his death. He was awarded the Ford Motor Company’s Master Certified Employee of Excellence Award. Previous to Reedy Ford, he had worked for Jeff at Musson Auto Parts.

Chad was an avid hunter (particularly bow hunting), fishing, loved grilling/cooking, and travel, and while on a cruise, he fell in love with Alaska. He was also known to show up at your house with stew, pork chops, ribs (which we affectionately named ROW— Ribs On Wheels), and many other wonderful dishes. He will be remembered for his kindness, humor, generosity, loyalty and always our “go-to-man,” be it dog-sitting, car repairs or just a shoulder to lean on. We will deeply miss him. Chad had an outgoing personality. Friends and family were dear to him, and his honesty, loyalty and his winning smile were just infectious.

Chad was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Kathy; his paternal grandparents, Bunt and Lois Speer; maternal grandfather, Charles “Mac” McMillan; and his aunt, Susan (Speer) Wolfe.  

Surviving to share his memory are Darren Taylor and family; his father, Ralph Speer and stepmother, Susan, of Arkansas City; brother, Mike and his wife, Melissa Speer, of Wichita, and their children, Tysana  Devore and her two sons Peyton and John, and Britney Base and husband, Brad, of Hesston; his stepsister, Sarah Bryant and fiancé, Ricky Johnson and their children Mick Bryant and Aubrey Johnson, of Arkansas City; his maternal grandmother, Betty McMillan, and aunts, Lisa Thompson and  Debbie Frazee, all of Wellington; his uncle, Mitch Speer;  stepfather, Keith ”Skip” Tolles, of Arkansas City; and many other cousins, nieces and nephews.

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