Louise Hortense Spires, age 93, of St. Joseph, TN passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 15th after an extended illness.
Ms. Spires was born in St. Joseph, Tennessee in 1932 to William and Della Perry. She spent the majority of her life in Saint Joseph. Upon graduating from nursing school in Decatur, AL in 1956, Ms. Spires spent the next 65 years caring for patients in the hospital and private setting. Ms. Spires began her nursing career at ECM Hospital in Florence, Alabama. After her time at ECM, she began working for Dr. Weathers’ in Loretto, Tennessee. After retiring from full-time nursing, she enjoyed sitting and caring for patients in their homes. She loved each and every one of her patients and loved to tell stories about her nursing career.
Ms. Spires loved her family. She was known to most as “Grandmother” or “Aunt Tense”. Some of our favorite memories include spending numerous summers playing at her house, Christmas Eve breakfast, where she would wake up very early to cook breakfast for us all. As her family grew to eight grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren, and countless nieces and nephews, we eventually outgrew her house and she had to give in and let others help her cook. She loved spending time with her family and was always there to provide a calm voice, a listening ear, or to just give wisdom and encouragement. Whether you were a family member or friend, you always felt better and more at peace after having a conversation with her. While we all will miss her, we are so thankful for our time with her and for the love and memories that we will cherish forever.
It was very common to see her and her sister, Ms. Betty, working in their yard. They loved tending to her garden, planting and caring for her beautiful flowers (especially buttercups), and to care for their chickens, guineas, and the occasional rabbits.
Above all, she loved the Lord. She loved attending church at Saint Joseph Church of Christ every chance she could and always enjoyed getting to spend time with her church family.
She is survived by her sons Charlie Spires (Martha) of Columbia, TN and Jimmy Barnett (Pat) of Saint Joseph, TN and one sister, Betty Sinclair of Saint Joseph, TN.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Charles Spires, one daughter Judy Wisdom, five siblings; Lora Belle Garland, Monetta Moore, Frances Lange, Ralph Perry, and Haggard Perry, grandson Stephen Ferguson, and great-grandson Maddox Moore.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 18th at 2:00 p.m. at Loretto Memorial Chapel with Bro. Wendell Jump officiating. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 17th from 5:00-8:00 at Loretto Memorial Chapel. Visitation will also be held with the family on Saturday, July 18th from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the funeral homel.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the nurses and doctors who helped care for Ms. Spires, especially NHC Transition Center, NHC HomeCare, Caris Palliative and Hospice Care.
