Latane Thrash Speer

Services for former First Lady of Kilgore Latane Speer, 79 will be 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at the First Baptist Church of Kilgore with Reverend Dr. Pete Freeman officiating. Entombment will follow at the Rusk County Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Mrs. Speer died Thursday, March 28, 2019 in Kilgore.

Latane was born October 19, 1939 in Jacksonville, Texas to Nell and Afton Thrash. Their family moved to Kilgore when Latane was very young. She attended Kilgore Public Schools and was a 1958 graduate of Kilgore High. Latane graduated from the University of Colorado. She married Bobby Speer in August of 1960. Mrs. Speer earned her master’s degree from Stephen F. Austin University and was a very respected History and Government teacher at Kilgore College. During her 43 years at Kilgore College she was a longtime Kilgore College Cheerleader Sponsor. In 1996 Latane was honored as the First Lady of Kilgore.

She is survived her husband of 58 years, Bobby Speer of Longview; her daughter, Simone Gill of Kilgore; granddaughter, Madison Muckleroy and her husband, David of Fort Worth; great grandchildren, Amelia and Afton Muckleroy of Fort Worth; bother, Gene Thrash and his wife, Teresa of Dallas; several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Speer was preceded in death by her brother, Ronnie Thrash and her parents.

The family would like to express their gratitude to HeartsWay Hospice and Arabella of Kilgore.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Latane Speer Scholarship fund at Kilgore College, 1100 Broadway Avenue, Kilgore, Texas 75662.