Love, family, trucks, and loyalty begin to describe the cut short, but very full life of our 23 year old son, Spencer Gregory Bird. He was born in Downey, CA, January 15, 1996, and even though he only lived in California a short 18 month to begin his life, he always felt connected to it. He moved to Willard, MO, in late August 1997, with his family, and began what some would call an eventful life.
Spencer never had a fear of the unknown when it came to eye-hand, and motor skills. At three years old he found himself on top of our homes roof to help Dad and others replace the roof, and when asked about being up there his mother Wendy said, “It’s ok, he’ll be fine”, and fine he was. He began riding a bike at three years old, and took the training wheels off at 3 1/2 years old, simply amazing, I always thought…..
Spencer took that great eye-hand coordination and translated it into a sport filled life, much to my happiness and encouragement, thinking, “Wow, my son’s going to be an athlete.” He started playing soccer, tee-ball, and some basketball. After a few years it was becoming apparent that his love for sports didn’t equal that of mine, and at first that was hard for me, but for Spencer it was like a light switch being turned on, and he grew a quick and enduring love for bikes, skateboards, motorcycles, four wheelers, and eventually his feast de la resistaunce…. that black Ford F-250 7.3 turbo diesel. Now don’t be fooled by the F-350 signs on it now, it’s still a F-250!!!!! For those of you that don’t know what that is, it’s a three qurter-ton pickup truck that has a 7.3 liter turbo diesel engine, in simple terms.
Spencer’s loyalty ran deep, when he loved you, or felt a connection to you he would collect things. Now, that doesn’t mean that if he didn’t collect something related to you that he didn’t care, or love you. He started out collecting rocks, of all things, from grandma & grandpa Peterson’s lake house in Bella Vista, AR. He would pick up unusual looking, different colored, or both types of rocks. However, rocks turned into, truck doors, from Bart’s first truck, Chase’s RM-80 Susuki motorcycle, and eventually his diesel colon bottle, necklaces and hats with Colby and Aaron, x-box equipment with Nathan, fishing polls with Colby, and truck parts from Jeff and for that matter, anyone and anywhere he could find them at that point. You see, Spencer collected things and they would end up in our garage, his bedroom, his and Makala’s home, and in his truck. Yeah, you could say he was a hoarder to some extent, he wouldn’t let any of us get rid of what we all saw as junk, or useless things, because to Spencer, things connected him to us.
Spencer was always willing to help others. If you needed to move he would help. If you needed a hand, he gave it. If you needed repairs to your car, truck, trailor, motorcycle, 4-wheeler, bicycle, or anything that had a motor in it, he was one that just jumped in, and in some cases, told you to move and just took over and did it his self. Spencer’s willingness to give was one of his greatest qualities!!!!
Spencer began to expand his love when he met Makayla. Since they’re initial meeting they have brought into this world, Lillian & Lucy. Spencer loved his girls, as he told me on many occasions. He had a different way about him when it came to showing emotion and love for that matter, but as he grew older, and most recently the last year or two of his life he started showing more and expressing more love than ever before. He never left the house without saying to Wendy & I, “I love You!” as he walked out the back door, or backed out of the driveway at the house.
Spencer leaves behind his daughters: Lillian & Lucy; his girlfriend Makayla Campbell; his parents: Gregory & Wendy Bird; his sisters: Brookelynn Martin and her husband Tyler of Copperass Cove, TX, and Andrea Johnson and her husband Josh of Salisbury, MD; maternal grandmother Esther Peterson of Willard, MO; paternal grandparents Ronald and Maxine Bird of Beaver, UT; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, close dear friends, and a multitude of friends, and acquaintances.
Spencer created what I would call two separate lifes. He had his life with his family, and he had his life with his extended family, which he has been accumulating over the past 7 to 8 years. As parents Wendy & I tried to teach Spencer the value of hard work, loyalty, family, and right and wrong. It’s that last one that he and I had many differences of opinion on. You see, Spencer Bird was like a train on the tracks, once he got in his mind an idea, a need, or some other form of distraction, the only to get him off that track was for it to end, and then he was off onto the next track. Anyone that closely knew my son, knew that the track that he was on of getting injectors for that truck of his was the longest and strongest track he has ever been on. Every time I saw my son, and I do mean every, it didn’t matter what the occasion was, or the reason for getting together, whether it was for something to drink, eat, a haircut from Wendy “Mom”, or just to stop by after a long time of no contact, the conversations turned into getting injectors for that truck. Spencer was singlely minded once he was on his tracks.
Wendy & I have worried about Spencer for 23 1/2 years, wondering if he was going to be alright, safe, and secure. Wendy never gave up on Spencer, making sure he graduated from High School, with the strong help of Mrs. Scroggs. She made sure he went to the dentist, doctor, DMV, and any and everything else that he seemed to always need from us as parents, she made it happen every time. Thank you Wendy for looking out for our son. Thank you, to the numerous other seriagate parents that fed him, gave him shelter, or an ear to bend. Thank you for helping and trying to keep him on the straight and narrow.
Most of all I want everyone to know that Spencer was baptized and had a believe in God our Heavenly Father. He was not the first one to be religiously orriented, but he knew!!!!!!!
Finally, Spencer’s death, which I might add, we all thought it would have been from Truck, motorcycle, 4-wheeler, bicycle, jumping off of, or climbing to what ever heights he did, came as a result or consequence of actions that he made in his life. He made the decision to be out in his truck at that late hour of the night and he drove his truck into the ditch and got stuck, no-one else did that but him. So even though his death is traggic, and brings about a lot of anger and other emotions, do not, and I repeat, do not let Spencer’s death make you angry, bitter, resentful, looking for revenge, or any other negative thought. Do not go down the rabbit hole of negativity. Let Spencer’s death encourage, uplift, or in some way inspire you to be a better person, to help another person, or simple change your own life for the better. Let Spencer’s example of Love inspire you to show, give, or be given more love and kindness as you move forward. I love my son Spencer, “Speed” Bird, I will always love my son, and I know that I will get to see him again when ever my turn on earth is over. Families can be eternal, and I want my surviving family to know how much I love all of you. Thank you anyone and everyone that has shown, expressed, or given of yourself to help us be comforted in some small way. Thank you to the Mercy hospital Doctors, nurses, and staff. Thank you to MidAmerica Transplant team. Thank you all for being here today,