Troy Dean Spears

Troy Dean Spears, 79 years, 1 month, 6 days, 13 hours, and 45 minutes old, of Gore, Oklahoma was born May 24, 1947, in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma to Clifford Harvey and Vergie Irene (Mullins) Spears and peacefully passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2026, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Troy completed his formal education and soon after enlisted in the United States Army in November 1965, in Oklahoma City, and served during the Vietnam War. His great ability to talk to people led him to his career as a Recruiter for the Army, which took he and Jotalee many different places. He retired in November 1991 from Fort Sam Houston, TX having earned many commendations such as, National Defense Service Medal w/Service Star, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, US Army Basic Recruiter Badge w/3 Gold Stars, Driver Badge-w/Overseas Service Ribbon, 2- Gold Recruiter Badge w/3 Sapphire Achievement Stars, Army Commendation Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Service Ribbon, 3-NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal 8th Award, and 2 Overseas Service Bars. Troy met and later married his best friend, Jotalee Swearengin, on April 5, 1968, in Sallisaw, OK. Troy and Jotalee were faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Troy opened a sports bar (Troy’s Other Place) in San Antonio, TX where he hosted many fundraisers for cancer patients. He was an exceptional cook and catered many events, as well as cooking for his family and friends. Troy also spent many years traveling as a US Air Marshall, a job he absolutely loved. Time off was spent hunting and deep-sea fishing in the gulf. His greatest passion was his family and was well versed at aggravating his grandchildren. Troy will be missed by many. He is preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Jimmy Dean and Troy Dean; a daughter-in-law, Jayne; son-in-law, Raymond Tschetter; brothers, Jerry, Frank, Herman, and Melvin; sisters, Ruby Henry and Connie Spears; and mother-in-law, Ella Josephine Swearengin. Those left to cherish Troy’s memory are his wife, Jotalee of Gore, OK; daughters, Sheila Carlson (Charles) of Big Sandy, TX and Savannah Spears (Jessica) of Emory, TX; sons, Jimmy Spears (Vero) of San Antonio, TX, Mark Spears (Ruth) of Gore, OK, and Thomas Spears of San Antonio, TX; granddaughters, Rachel Lathe (Kat) of Hondo, TX, Amanda Platter (Anthony) of Burleson, TX, Sarah Ayers (Cody) of Braggs, OK, and Beth Spears (Blake) of Gore, OK; grandsons, Johnny Tschetter (Lexi) of Lytle, TX, Benjamin Tschetter (Samantha) of Princeton, TX, Matthew Spears of Arlington, TX, and Justin Spears (Jacey) of Gore, OK; brother, Clifford ‘Goat’ Spears of OKC, OK; sister, Elaine Webster of California; 26 great-grandkids with one on the way; extended family and many friends. Viewing will be 12PM-7PM, Monday, July 6, 2026, with the family receiving friends from 5PM-7PM, at Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home in Fort Gibson. Troy's life celebration will be 12:30PM, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Gore, Oklahoma with Bishop Jason Briley officiating. Committal prayers and interment will follow at Fort Gibson National Cemetery with Justin Spears, Cody Ayers, Thomas Spears, Mark Spears, Jimmy Spears, Johnny Tschetter, Ben Tschetter, and Jason Lathe serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers are Cayden Taylor, Nathan Lathe, Riley Lathe, William Lathe, Josh Tschetter, Trent Tschetter, Matthew Spears, Caleb Rubio and Malachi Rubio. Full military honors will be observed. The family of Troy Dean Spears has entrusted his care, service, and burial to Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home in Fort Gibson. 918-478-2555. Online condolences may be left for the family at clifforddgarrettfamilyfh.com Mr. Spear's service may be viewed at https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Flive%2FB3lcRdiFjQs%3Fsi%3DmTrcWo5Yy-3L_iUA&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cba840426a4824baa38dd08dedbb2da30%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639189758366527217%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yV4Qqx%2BcKGwvmzSc48i7MnUiN9s0jXDkbmER%2BnMcETQ%3D&reserved=0

Troy Dean Spears

May 24, 1947 - July 1, 2026