Obituary

It is with great sadness we share the passing of our beloved Jean Spearman, cherished wife of 62 years to Cecil and wonderful mother to Mark, Steve, Scott and their families. Her departure the morning of January 19th, 2023, will leave an insurmountable void in the lives of those she touched and her family, who were immeasurably precious to her.

Jean was born in Garner, North Carolina, to Paul and Grattis – aka “Jimmy” – Mitchell. Two younger brothers were to follow, Sidney and Tommy (Tommy sadly preceded her passing in 2003). After a time living as a family in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina, Jean, her mother and brothers moved to an area in the Appalachian mountains. Growing up in the Appalachians Jean cultivated a keen sense of work ethic as she helped her mother in the responsibilities of the home and caring for her younger brothers while attending her primary and secondary schooling.

Jean went on to acquire a Registered Nursing degree working at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina and furthered her education in graduate training in obstetrics in Newark, New Jersey. Immediately after she obliged herself to work at the V.A. Hospital at Duke Medical Center where she met her soon-to-be husband, Cecil, in March of 1960….they were married in November of that same year.

Jean and Cecil had three boys within a 7-year time span, living in five different states over the course of the next 13 years. Jean hung up her nursing uniform to stay home and raise her precious boys. It was 1973 when they landed in Southern California and from that point on they remained in Palos Verdes until all three of their sons graduated high school. Their purchase of Laguna Niguel Racquet Club, a tennis and fitness facility, brought the newly “empty nesters” to Laguna Beach in 1986 to oversee and manage their new business venture. Jean had been dedicated ever since to the employees and members of her club, as well as being an active member at Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church, the Laguna Niguel P.E.O. group and Mammoth Lakes Cast-Off, where she volunteered her time after buying a second home in her later years.

The highlight of her life, however, was her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchild. We will always cherish the family gatherings she so faithfully orchestrated throughout the year, the back to school shopping sprees with her grandchildren every fall, the outings with the grandkids to holiday performances every Christmas, the annual family vacations she hosted in Mammoth Lakes and the endearing gifts she would joyfully bestow at Christmas and birthday celebrations to her treasured loved ones – her family.

Jean’s legacy of commitment to her husband and family, in addition to her impeccable work ethic and generous spirit, will forever continue to inspire and guide all who knew and loved her.

A Celebration of Life for Jean will be held on Friday, February 3rd, at 2:30pm at Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church, 30071 Ivy Glenn Drive, with a reception at the church immediately following the service.