John Louis Spire, Sr., was born June 6, 1936, to Roy and Margaret (Johnson) Spire, in Chautauqua, Kansas. He departed this life on June 4, 2024, at the age of 87 years.

John was raised in Kansas, graduating from Sedan High School with the class of 1954. He then attended Independence Junior College, Oklahoma State University and Central State University; receiving his master's in administration and media specialist.

He was most interested in being a by vocational minister. Challenged by the needs and struggles of smaller churches he served in Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.

John accepted Christ as a young boy in a Sunday School class. He felt called to the ministry as a teen age boy, and from then forward he found places to serve. John was a talented musician and had a beautiful voice which complimented his ministry.

John was united in marriage to Emma Lou Perkins on August 23, 1956, in the Rose Garden at Bethany Nazarene College. John spent his wedding day making sure everything was just perfect in the garden. To this union three children, Doug, Emma and John Jr., were born.

John was a talented salesman with the Cushing Daily Citizen as a newspaper advertising agent. He had a used car agency in Cushing for over thirty years.

John taught elementary school for many years and was involved in the Principal's Association. He ended his formal career teaching middle school at Ripley, OK and as an elementary school administrator in Agra, OK where he served for thirteen years.

John was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Yale.

He had a passion for restoring old tractors and cars and displaying them at Tractor Shows around the area.

Survivors include his wife, Emma, of the home; son, Doug Spire and wife, Becky, of Cushing; grandsons, Isaac Spire of Cushing and Abel Spire and wife, TeeKayy of Cushing; great-grandchildren, Kirk, Ida, Sabel and Sawyer and many other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents and grandparents, John was preceded in death by one daughter, Christy Spire-Neal and one son, John L Spire, Jr.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024, at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Yale with Brother Mich Dershem officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations be made to Yale Fellowship Baptist Church Building Fund or a charity of your choice.