ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. 

Obituary for: SPENCE, HARRY D. 

Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. 

Source: Honaker Funeral Home, Slidell, La.

Died: 

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SPENCE, HARRY D. 
    July 12, 2014

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Long time Slidell resident, Harry D. Spence, died at his home in Slidell on 
July 12, 2014 at age 91.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jabe Benjamin Spence and Ella Jenkins 
Spence, by his wife Polly and by all 10 of his older brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his 5 children: Michael, Steven, Barbara, Joanne, Carol, and 
by 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren (with 2 more due in September).

Mr. Spence was born in a railroad camp in Nicholson, Mississippi on September 
17, 1922. After the family relocated and spent several years at the Southpoint, 
Louisiana, railroad camp (Orleans Parish) the family moved to Slidell where Mr. 
Spence spent the remainder of his life. A 1940 graduate of Slidell High School, 
he later served his country in World War II by joining the US Navy in the 76th 
Construction Battalion (ÒSeabeesÓ). Mr. Spence served for 2 years in Hawaii, 
Guam, and later with the Japan Occupational Force in late 1945 (in the 98th 
Construction Battalion); he was very proud of his service.

Upon arriving back to Slidell, he started his over 40-year career with the 
Central Louisiana Electric Company (CLECO) as a lineman becoming a well-known 
and recognized figure around Slidell and Pearl River. 

In 1952 he found the love of his life with Polly (Pauline) Bird of Lacombe and 
started a family. Early on Harry and Polly were active in the Kiwanis Club and 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) with both serving in a number of positions. 
Mr. Spence was a life-long member of the First United Methodist Church and they 
attended faithfully through all their years and enjoyed being regular choir 
members. He had a lovely bass voice and would occasionally solo in the choir 
despite being hard of hearing.

ÒMr. HarryÓ also volunteered for many duties and functions including Cub Scout 
Pack 344 leader and Boy Scout Leader for Troop 344 (First United Methodist 
Church of Slidell). He also enjoyed for years amateur astronomy and built his 
own telescopes.

Mr. Harry was an avid duck hunter in the area since he was a teenager and for 
years ran catfish lines in the Pearl River as well as regular fishing and 
shrimping in Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne, and The Rigolets. A number of 
Slidell residents and some of his Boy Scouts were invited on these duck hunts 
and many were lucky recipients of his renowned duck dinners. He was also famous 
for his deep-dish cobblers and home-made ice cream of which he made countless 
gallons over the years. He was a man most generous with his time and would be 
ready to volunteer to help anyone Ð and a fantastic father, mentor, teacher, 
and a man of great faith.

In retirement Mr. Harry took up deer hunting, decoy carving, lamp making, and 
being a regular and active member of G.O.S.H. (Guardians of Slidell History).
There will be a wake held at the Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd., West, 
on Thursday evening, July 17th from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM. 
An additional viewing will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 433 
Erlanger St., Slidell, starting at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 18, 2014, with the 
funeral service to start promptly at 11:00 AM at the church.

Interment will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery right after the conclusion of 
the funeral service. 
We invite all to proceed with us after the service to the cemetery.

US Navy 
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