July 15, 1943 – June 7, 2018
James Earl Spooner, 74, of Bainbridge, GA, passed away Thursday, June 7, 2018.
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at Ivey Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Jack Hale officiating. Interment will follow at Cool Springs Cemetery with Tommy Haire, Ronnie Spooner, Charlie McCann, Ramsay Simmons, Vincent Edmonds and Greg Brown serving as active pallbearers. The Staff of Ivey Funeral Home will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com.
Memorial donations may be made to: Cool Springs Cemetery Fund, C/O Donna Bryan, 676 Cool Springs Road, Bainbridge, GA 39819.
James Earl Spooner was born July 15, 1943 in Bainbridge, GA, the son of Rose Lillian Spooner Brown and Robert Dee Brown. He was a graduate of Attapulgus High School. He married Lynette Sullivan and they made their home in Decatur County. He was a member of Attapulgus Church of God.
James Earl served the public in many capacities over his decades long career. He began with Quincy Public Safety where he served for twenty years. He then served as Chief of Decatur County Fire and Rescue and retired as the Attapulgus Police Chief. Known affectionately to many simply as “Chief”, he then went on to become the Chief at Ivey Funeral Home. He always had a word of encouragement, a funny story or an “atta boy” when the days were hot and long. Chief loved the outdoors and tried to take every opportunity to deer hunt or go fishing. During growing season, he could give sound advice straight from his garden. Nothing meant more to him than his family and he loved those he worked with just like they were family to him. He was described as one of those “they don’t make like that” any more. In the words of Chief, “Nothing we can add to that.”
Survivors include his children, James “Bubba” Spooner, Jr. of Bainbridge, Shannon Spooner and his wife, Karyn, of Faceville, Cathy Spooner and Krista Jones, also of Bainbridge; his grandchildren, Justin & Katie, Garrett, Leigh & Jordan, Jesse, Erin, Masen, Hannah and Luke; and his great-granddaughter, Kenley. In addition to his parents, James Earl was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Lynette Spooner.
