Connie E. (Whittle) Speer

Clearwater- Connie E. (Whittle) Speer, age 93, preschool teacher, farmwife, Sunday School teacher, passed away Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

Visitation, 9am-7pm, Thursday, July 13, with family present, 5:30-7pm, at Webb-Shinkle Mortuary. Services, 1pm, Friday, July 14, Clearwater United Methodist Church.

Connie will be remembered for her loving, social nature, which made her the center of a wide group of family and friends. She was born Sunday, September 1, 1929 in Bentley, KS, to Clarence and Estelle (Leichhardt) Whittle as the second of their five children. 

After graduating from Sedgwick High School, her love of children took Connie to Kansas State Teacher’s College, where she earned a teaching certificate. She then taught second grade for the Clearwater Public School District. As the new girl in town, she caught the eye of local farmer Fred Speer, and they were married on June 5, 1949, in Sedgwick, Kansas. They established a family including: Nancy (Clint) Moyer, Susan (deceased), Lynden (Liz), Carole (Craig) Chandler, and Jill (Carl) Gerriets. They remained lifelong partners and were only separated by Fred’s death in 2013.

Connie was also a long-time member of Clearwater United Methodist Church, where she was a mainstay of its Good Shepherd Preschool for many years. In retirement, Connie deeply treasured her nine grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.

Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; infant daughter, Susan; parents, Clarence and Estelle (Leichhardt) Whittle; siblings, Vivian (Glenn) McNeill, Gary (Velma Jean) Whittle, Gene (Marilyn) Whittle, and Ann (George) Spenser.

Connie is survived by her children, Nancy (Clint) Moyer of Clearwater, Lynden (Liz) Speer of Viola, Carole (Craig) Chandler of Adams, NE, Jill (Carl) Gerriets of Portland, OR; grandchildren, Michelle (Dom) Hennessey, Joshua (Loni) Moyer, Shana (Zack) Dalbom, Crystal Speer, Jessica (Price) Reynard, Michael (Amber) Speer, Bethany Chandler, Adam Chandler, Alex (Noel) Chandler; great-grandchildren, Madison and Paige Moyer, Josephine Hennessey, Eli, Jack, and Stella Dalbom, Jakob and Chesnie McCune, Gracie, and Freddie Sanchez, Olivia, Iris, and Isaac Reynard, Ellie and Weston Speer, Leon Pavez King, Sage Chandler. In lieu of flowers, Memorials: Clearwater United Methodist Church, OR Good Shepherd Preschool (Payable to CUMC/GSPS), 130 N. First, Clearwater, KS 67026.  

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