V. Ray Spencer, 67

Vernon “Ray” Spencer, 67, unexpectedly departed this world to be with his Lord after a brief illness on Sunday, April 3, 2016, at his home in Cocolalla, Idaho, with family present.

The grandson of Cocolalla pioneers, Ray was born on Jan. 3, 1949, to Alice and Forest Spencer in Coeur d'Alene, the fourth of five children. A blizzard was brewing that morning, and Forest couldn't get the car started, so Alice had to take the bus to the hospital.

The family was living in Post Falls at the time, but returned to Cocolalla in 1961 and purchased a farm. Ray attended seventh and eighth grades at Southside Elementary, where he met his future wife, Joan Donnerberg.

He graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1967, then attended North Idaho College for two years before he went on to the University of Idaho, where he earned a bachelor's degree in veterinary science in 1971. He married Joan on July 5, 1970, and they had three children by their fourth anniversary.

He went into concrete work, running Spencer Construction Co. from 1980 until his retirement. He also worked the family farm, and was still bucking bales and feeding cows until about two weeks before his death. His eldest son and his family continue on in his tradition on the Cocolalla farm.

Ray loved children, fishing, and numbers. He was a math whiz and also wrote poetry. He loved the Lord and his family. Friends knew him to be wise and honest, and quite the conversationalist. In his later years, when his joints gave him trouble, he proudly adopted the moniker “Grump-pa.”

He is loved and survived by his wife, Joan Spencer; his children, Vernon R. Spencer Jr. (and Amy) of Cocolalla, Larry Spencer of Post Falls, and Janet Richardson (and Darrell) of Naples, Idaho; his sister, Francie Hanson of Post Falls; 11 grandchildren; several siblings-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and by siblings, A. Louise “Lou” Stevens, Ron Spencer, and Neal Spencer.

Services will be held Saturday, April 9, at New Song Bible Church in Sagle. Viewing will be 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a funeral at 1 p.m. Private interment will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to ICR.org, one of Ray's favorite charities.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit his online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.