Mona Kay Spears (87) was born January 10, 1938 (Oak Hill, WV), and passed away on Sunday, March 2, 2025, surrounded by her family. Kay spent most of her life in Beckley, WV, with her beloved husband of 56 years, Bud, where they had two children: Lesa and Howard. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1956 and was a 40-year member of the social sorority, Beta Sigma Phi.
Kay served as the Secretary of Maxwell Hill Elementary School for 35 years where she truly enjoyed and took pride in her work. She dearly loved the students and found great joy in their daily interactions. Kay also took care of the teachers: solved various administrative issues, formed many friendships, and often treated co-workers to her famous thumbprint cookies and peanut butter fudge.
Kay loved the outdoors and had quite a green thumb. She looked forward to the first blossoms of yellow forsythia in the spring, visited Grandview annually to enjoy the lush rhododendron that blooms in the summer, and marveled at the fields of sunflowers that peak in the fall. She enjoyed taking long walks with her favorite dogs to collect a rainbow of colorful leaves each autumn. Kay and Bud enjoyed keeping bird feeders and corn cobs out back for the squirrels and birds and especially loved seeing the cardinals and blue jays that visited often.
She always found joy in music and loved ballads sung by legends like Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, and Willie Nelson. Her favorite songs were "Desperado" (both The Eagles & Linda Ronstadt versions) and "Over the Rainbow" (Israel Kamakawiwo'ole version). Kay also loved dancing! As a young woman, she was part of a dance group called the "Jazz Babes," and, in recent years, rarely missed an episode of Dancing with the Stars.
The beach was Kay's happy place. She loved visiting Oak Island and Carolina/Kure Beach with her family, especially at Christmas, and enjoyed collecting seashells, reading a book with her feet in the surf, and taking long walks with her beloved Bud.
Mona Kay Spears was a gift to all who knew her. She was a shining example of what it means to lead with kindness, love, and acceptance. She encouraged others to "always be thankful" and reminded us that no matter how bad the day may seem, the "sun is still shining."
Kay is survived by her sister, Loretta Blankenship; daughter, Lesa Spears; son, Howard Spears; and granddaughter, Valerie Spears. She was preceded in death by her husband Howard L. "Bud" Spears, and parents Louise and Samuel Turner.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Bowers Hospice House of Beckley or the Alzheimer's Association on her behalf.