William "Martin" Spears

William Martin Spears, 70, was born January 13, 1955, and passed away June 26, 2025. He was the oldest child of Bill and Ella Ouita Spears of Camden. He was born a preemie and wasn’t expected to live. He made it 70 years with cerebral palsy which he didn’t let slow him down. He graduated from Camden Fairview High School in 1973 and from the University of Arkansas in 1977 with a BSBA degree. He worked in the field of human resources, first at U of A and then as Director at ASU-Beebe. His last job was serving as an aide on a bus with special needs children at Beebe Public Schools. A life-long Baptist, he was a member of Union Valley Baptist Church.

He always loved vehicles, beginning with his blue and white pedal car, to motorcycles as a teen, and getting his 1967 mustang fastback. In his adult years, he loved Model A Fords and the Flathead Fords, 1932-53. His dream car was a green ’51 Ford Custom Tudor, like the one his parents brought him home from the hospital in. With the help of a dear friend and E-bay, that dream came true. As a member of the Natural State V8 Ford Club, he enjoyed motoring around Arkansas and entering car shows. The largest trophy received by the ’51 was for best color and the best was the Principal’s Award, in the form of a paddle, at the Cabot Cruisers Car show.

He enjoyed travelling with his wife Jayne. They met on a blind date engineered by her boss who was married to his best friend. Travels took them across the US and to Mexico. Trips included San Francisco, California, Detroit, Michigan, Nashville, Tennessee (several times), and to the Northeast U.S. He really enjoyed the family reunions he attended. The Martin family and Doggett family met yearly for eating and visiting.

He is survived by his wife Jayne, and puppy Millie; brother Steve Spears (Cindy) of Sherwood; sister Deborah Wheeler (Rob) of Maumelle; niece Megan Miller (Hunter); nephews Jordan Spears (Kylie), Austin Spears (Brittany), Josh Wheeler and Hunter Wheeler; one aunt, Ruth Potts and many cousins; his best friend from childhood, David Crain; and car friends, Jerald Burns and Harold Huskey.

He and Jayne did not have children, but “adopted” other people’s kids, who became special to them: “Daughters” Joanna Cockman, Tina Ferguson, Erica Murry Ruelle and Heaven Anderson; “sons” Teddy Kidd and Jonathan Ruelle.

Pallbearers are his nephews and Teddy Kidd. Honorary pallbearers are lifelong friend David Crain, college friend Chuck Flynn, two special cousins, Glen Allen Robinson and David Martin, Jerald Burns, Harold Huskey, Jonathan Ruelle, Mason Kidd and Blake Kidd.

Thank you to the nursing staff of Greystone Nursing and Rehab in Cabot for their care over the past three years.

Memorials may be made to The Events Center, 2740 Mt. Holly Rd., Camden, AR 71701, or the Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, 404 W. Dewitt Henry Dr., Beebe, Arkansas. Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at Union Valley Baptist Church. Please wear red and bright colors. Cremation arrangements by Smith Westbrook Funeral Home, 404 W Dewitt Henry, Beebe, Arkansas. To view the online register, please visit www.smithfamilycares.com/westbrook