Entered into the rest of her Lord Jesus on Wednesday, April 1, 2026: Kathryn Lively Spears, 95, widow of Robert Edward Spears, Jr. Born March 13, 1931, in Augusta, Ga., to Warren and Beatrice (nee Hill) Lively.
Children: Michael J. Spears and Robert E. Spears, III, (Jenny Christopher) of Greenville, SC. Grandchildren: Anthony (Tony) Spears, David Spears, Nicholas (Nick) Spears, Rebekah Johnson (Nathaniel), Katie Norris (Aaron) and Daniel Spears; Great-grandchildren: Abigail Johnson, Seth Johnson, Silas Johnson, Jeremiah Johnson, Andrew Johnson, and Nate Johnson.
Kathryn moved with her parents from Augusta, Georgia to her parents farm in Shell Bluff (near Waynesboro) Georgia, when she was four years old. She and her six siblings (Ella, Virginia, Betty, Benjamin, Eleanor, and Earl) and their parents joined the historic Botsford Baptist Church. She was a baptized member there until she moved after graduating high school to Augusta, Georgia. She then joined First Baptist Church where she was an active member for 10 years. She was an active member in Sunday school and was in faithful weekly attendance to worship services. She also was a leader in a very large vacation Bible school. She financially supported the church through regular tithes and special offerings, as she was taught by her parents. She was diligent to read the Bible and pray with her husband and boys, instruct her boys in the truths of the faith, reading them Bible stories, taking them to worship services, praying with and for them throughout their lives. In 1958, the Spears joined the historic Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Augusta, Georgia, where Bob had been a member since he was an infant. They remained members of the Lutheran church through the remainder of their lives (most of those years they were members at Resurrection.)
She graduated from Waynesboro High School in 1948 and moved to Augusta, Georgia to live with one of her sisters and work at Noland Company as a secretary. She married Robert Edward Spears, Jr., on September 17, 1955. She was a loving and faithful wife for almost 69 years and enjoyed her marriage through good times and not-so-good times. One year after they were married, they welcomed a son, Robert Edward Spears, III, and second son, Michael James Spears, a year later. She loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a fantastic homemaker and neighbor and friend to many in every place they traveled in life. She loved bridge and played every year until the year she died. She loved to cook and host friends and family. She and Bob were members of several bridge clubs and were known to be excellent bridge players. She loved to read and to knit (she knitted hundreds of items for hospitals and other charities.) She was an avid bowler for many years.
Kathryn followed Bob as work took him to Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina, and finally back to their hometown of Augusta, Georgia, where they lived in retirement. In 2021 they moved to Greenville, South Carolina to be closer to family.
Bob and Kathryn have been life-long disciples and believers in Jesus Christ, both being beneficiaries of many generations of faithful Christian ancestors. They faithfully served Jesus in a variety of ways, both within and outside the organized church. They taught their boys from infancy the truths of the Bible and faithfully took them to church weekly. Bible reading was a nightly practice as well as prayers and theological education at home.
Kathryn and Bob were children of the Depression and grew up having few or no luxuries (like most children of that generation.) They traveled only a few miles from home until they reached adulthood. Bob received his first taste of travel with the Navy at the end of World War II. He had additional opportunities to travel with the Army during the start of the Korean War. They decided to “see the USA in a Chevrolet” (advertising theme of the early 1960’s.) They eventually visited all 50 states, Mexico, and many of the provinces of Canada, and countries of Europe. Many of these trips taken in the 1950’s through the 1970’s were “camping” trips with their boys. Later trips were taken with other family members and friends. They also traveled to many countries in Europe and enjoyed seeing other cultures and God’s majestic creation.
Bob and Kathryn purchased a lake-front lot on the Clarks Hill Reservoir (now Lake Thurmond) near Augusta. They along with several friends and family built a cabin that was enjoyed by hundreds of family and friends. They were avid water skiers and taught many how to ski. They loved their time “at the lake” as often as possible with as many friends and family as possible.
A graveside service was held at the Westover Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, Georgia at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 4, 2026, followed by a worship service at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection at 2:00 PM with the Reverend David. B. Hunter officiating.
Memorial contributions (no flowers please) may be made to the Miracle Hill Ministries in Greenville, SC.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com
