Marlene Spears

Marlene VonDissen Spears, 83 of Frederick, died Sunday, March 24, 2024 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield surrounded by family.

She was born August 9, 1940 (even though she believed it was the 7th)in Mt. Sterling, the daughter of Leland "Butch" and Carroll Ione Logsdon VonDissen. She married Thomas Harold Spears on February 4, 1979 and he survives.

She is also survived by two sons William Scott (wife Kathy) Boyd of Mt. Sterling and Christopher Marion (wife Cynthia) Boyd of Versailles; seven grandchildren Ryan (wife Cierra) Boyd, Rachel (husband Michael) Mendor, Jacob Boyd, Leland (wife Michelle) Boyd, Joshua (wife Jasmyn) Boyd, Haley Boyd, and Megan (husband Steve) Engle; three greatgrandchildren Kamdyn, Savannah, and Levi Boyd; a sister Betty Lou Phillips of Moline; three step-children Susan Renee Spears, Julie Schieferdecker, and Deena (husband Steve) Cunningham; four step-grandchildren; and three step-greatgrandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, a son Jeffrey Leland Boyd (surviving wife Mary Beth) and a sister Carroll Trone.

Marlene graduated from Rushville High School in the class of 1958. In her early years, She and her first husband managed the Barnes Super Value in Rushville. She remarried and worked for Astoria Fibra Steel, and then stayed home to raise her family. Later, she worked at Walker's IGA in Beardstown, and then Marlene and Tom owned the Tastee Treet in Mt. Sterling for eleven years. Marlene loved arranging flowers in her free time, whether planting in her garden or making arrangements. She won several awards throughout the years, showing at the State Fair. She and her sister Carroll volunteered each year to decorate The Dana Thomas House, which brought them so much joy. Marlene also volunteered at Rushville HELP Center and was an election judge. She found simple pleasure in feeding and watching hummingbirds. "Like the hummingbird sipping nectar from every flower, I fly joyfully through my days, seeing beauty in everything."- Amethyst Wyldfyre

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Thursday, March 28, 2024 at Colwell Memorial Home in Beardstown, with Reverend Keith Kettner officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery. The family will meet with friends from 5-7 PM Wednesday at the memorial home.

Memorials have been suggested to Rushville Help Center or St. Jude Children's Hospital. Condolences may be left online at www.colwellmemorialhome.com or on Facebook at Colwell Memorial Home.