James Theodore Spears

James T. Spears, 86, of Azle, Texas, formerly of Mansfield, Texas, died Aug. 25, 2016, after a brief illness.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Aug. 31 at Blessing Funeral Home, 401 Elm St., Mansfield. Graveside service will be 10:30 a.m. Sept. 1 at the Mansfield Cemetery on Cemetery Road. His nephew Johnny Phillip Spears will serve as officiant.

Known to most as J.T., he was born Feb. 1, 1930, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Henry Phillip and Irene Boone Spears. J.T. graduated from Mansfield High School and recently attended the 60-year class reunion. He also served in the U.S. Army Air Force.

J.T. and wife Sue Spears raised their four children in Mansfield, and he served as a volunteer fireman in Mansfield during the 1960s and early ’70s.

He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1990 after working in Fort Worth, Texas, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Houston, Texas. J.T. continued to work for USPS as a consultant for several years after retirement. He was a longtime member of the National Association of Postal Supervisors and served in multiple leadership positions for the organization.

J.T. was predeceased by his parents, grandchildren Sean Spears and Jason Spears, and six siblings. Interment will be near his parents.

Survivors include his children Ted Spears and wife Joyce of Blue Ridge, Texas, Malcolm Spears and wife Marie of Rendon, Texas, Brenda Tacker and husband Terry of Robinson, Texas, and Phillip A. Spears of Hurst, Texas; five grandchildren Heather Spears Bowling, Serah Spears, Phillip S. Spears, Travis Spears and wife Jesi, and Daniel Tacker; 12 great-grandchildren Darion Bowling, Destiny Phillips, Nathan Spears, Elizabeth Spears, Matthew Spears, Zane Ashmore, Kristopher Jones, Charlotte Jones, Kayla Jones, Jaxon Spears, Sullivan Spears, and Brant Spears; one great-great-grandchild Zachariah Bowling; siblings George Spears of Granbury, Texas, Shirley Nowicki of Austin, Texas, and Dorothy Campbell of Arlington, Texas; and numerous relatives and close friends.