Joan Cox Speer Obituary (1940 - 2021)

Joan Cox Speer, 81, died August 30, 2021 at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, TN. Joan was born on May 29, 1940 in Gadsden, TN to Earnest James (Jim) Cox and Mary Lena Cox Boyd Emison. Joan graduated from Alamo High School in 1958 with her identical twin sister, Jean. After high school, she graduated from West Tennessee Business College, later continuing her education to become an LPN. Her work as a nurse included positions at the Jackson Clinic and Cedar Crest Hospital in Humboldt, Memorial Hospital and Golden Door in Trenton. Joan also worked at Goldkist Grain Elevator in Alamo and Shoaf Cotton Company in Milan. After taking several years off from nursing to fulfill her favorite role as Nana, she reactivated her nursing license. After working in several departments at West Tennessee Healthcare, she retired from there in 2005. Among the many hats she wore, she co-owned and was the bookkeeper for a service station, Speer Auto Parts, and Speer Auto Electric with her husband. Her favorite pastimes were crocheting and knitting, and the study and teaching of God's Word. She considered her most important job to be the continuation of her legacy of faith in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Lloyd W. Speer with whom she would have celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on September 19; daughter, Arnetta Speer; grandchildren, Kate (Nick) Taylor, Anna (Jake) Gant, and Amber Speer; great-grandchildren, Jett Gant, Audra Gant, and Charlotte Gant; sister, Darlene Cox Riley; nephew, Brad (Jane) Holden; great-niece, Paige (Luke) Freeman; and great-nephew, Chase Holden. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son L. Keith Speer; twin sister, Jean C. (Bobby) Holden; brother, Larry N. Emison; brother-in-law, Jackey Riley; great-grandchildren, Johnathan Amos Gant and Abigail Elizabeth Gant.