Sgm (Ret) Joseph C. "Joe" Spiers Iii

Amory – SGM (Ret) Joseph C. “Joe” Spiers, III, 69, died on Saturday, November 23, 2013, at his residence under the care of NMMC Hospice. Born on November 30, 1943, in Carriere, MS, he was a son of the late Joseph C. Spiers, Jr., and Rita Irene Tate Spiers.

Moving as a child to the Dixie Community of Hattiesburg, Joe graduated from Forest County Agricultural High School and attended the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1964, he moved to Amory and joined the National Guard. Joe also worked as the Quality Control Manager of Cramco (now ITT). On April 2, 1965, he married Dorothy Jeane Palmer. In the early 1970’s, Joe began a full-time career with the National Guard, retiring as Sergeant Major after honorably serving for 38 years.

He was a member of North Boulevard Christian Church, a Master Mason, and an Endowment member of NRA. Joe had been a member of Monroe County Bass Club and Starkville Gun Club prior to declining health. He was an avid outdoorsman, loving hunting, fishing, and competitive pistol and rifle shooting. For a number of years, Joe was a member of the State of MS National Guard pistol and rifle teams, traveling all over the United States, winning a number of awards both individually and as a team.

He was a man of exceptional character, who was proud of his service to his Country and loved his family.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Dorothy “Jeannie” Palmer Spiers, Amory; daughter, Jeanna Kathleen Spiers, Amory; brother, Bobby Spiers (Molly), Wiggins; sisters-in-law, Linda Stanford (Sonny) and Kathy Collins (Chatt); and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Moonyean S. Tucker; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Kathleen and C. B. Palmer; and brother-in-law, Carl Wayne Palmer.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:30 PM, Wednesday, November 27 at North Boulevard Christian Church with Pastor Ferman Anderson and Bro. Buzz Wilkinson officiating. Burial will follow in Masonic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Chad Logan, Justin Logan, Robert Dewayne Alsup, Steve Logan, David Logan, and Christopher Logan. Honorary pallbearers will be Herman Hester, Ralph Dill, B. W. Ausborn, Lloyd Wayne Howell, and all others who served with Joe in the 1st 198thand 155th SAB.

He will lie-in-state at the church from Noon until the service hour on Wednesday

Visitation will be from 5 – 8 PM, Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to North Boulevard Christian Church, PO Box 472, Amory, MS 38821; First Friends, PO Box 114, Amory, MS 38821; Amory Humane Society, 1317 Old Hwy 6, Amory, MS 38821; or Marshall County Humane Society, PO Box 625, Holly Springs, MS 38635.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.