Born on March 5, 1928 in Clear Creek, MO, the son of Charles and Susie Mae (West) Spencer, he was a lifelong resident of Vernon County. He grew up working the farm with his father and brothers. He attended a rural one room country school through the eighth grade.
In 1946, at 18 years old, he joined the Navy. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and honorably discharged in 1948.
After serving in the Navy, Albert married Minnie Alice (Litle) on April 1, 1950 and worked in the local shoe factory and then retired from Witt’s Printing Company. After retiring he worked as a repairman on small engines, lawn mowers and chainsaws.
Ab was quiet, shy and a man of very few words, but he was industrious, hardworking, gifted in woodwork and had a unique and natural talent to repair guns and clocks. He found joy in providing for his wife Minnie and five daughters. Ab was an enthusiastic gardener. You would be hard pressed to find a weed in his garden and he grew and sold the best watermelons and strawberries around. He was an all around sportsman enjoying deer and squirrel hunting, fishing, and running his hounds for coyote. He also enjoyed the thrill of wheeling and dealing for a good trade or at an auction.
Ab is preceded in death by his loving wife Minnie and daughter Martha Jean Grider, brothers Lee, Joe, Jimmie, Bill, Charles and Dewey, and sister Viola. He is survived by daughters Rebecca, Lena, Alice, and Nancy, 12 grandchildren, 44 great- grandchildren, 20 great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.
A funeral service win Military Honors will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, MO with Jamie Kunkel officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Dederick, MO, weather permitting.
***At this time there are no limitations on the number of people attending funerals or visitations, however, those in attendance will be asked to maintain social distancing, and that people are welcome to and, indeed, are encouraged to wear face mask to protect themselves and others.
Drop by the Family Center parking lot this Saturday, September 5th for some great food courtesy of the Bates County Cattlemen starting at 10 am until it’s gone. Here’s the menu:
The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Bates County to be in effect until 9:45 am.
The tractor pull that got scrubbed due to weather this weekend at the Bates County Fairgrounds has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 13th at 2 pm. 
