Vivian Helene Spencer, 93, went to her heavenly home on February 18, 2021. Her devotion to family and firm belief in the Lord Christ as her personal Savior brought peace to us all during her final days.
Vivian was born to Hubert and Clara Heaton in Fort Madison, Iowa on November 16, 1927. She was part of a loving Christian family and community that would be her lifelong support from an early age. She learned about Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins as a child from her maternal grandmother. She was active in teaching youth groups and Sunday School children her entire life, sharing the “Good News” of the gospel.
Vivian was blessed with an extended and loving family. In her early teens she, her parents and sister moved to Phoenix, Arizona. She was a graduate of Phoenix Union High School and had a long career as an executive assistant for a national insurance company and later in life the Arizona Department of Transportation. Throughout her work career she made many cherished and enduring friendships.
Vivian was an educator and evangelist at heart. Her love of teaching the word of God, especially to little children, helped so many find their way to salvation in Christ. She was mind and soft-spoken, and always had time to help others. She is dearly missed by her family and loved ones, but now celebrate the fact that she is at her eternal home with the Lord.
Vivian is survived by her sister Shirley Neece; her son Steve and daughter-in-law Tamara; her grandchildren Nicole Ellis, Jason Spencer, and Nora Spencer; and 7 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ray, and her parents.
Burial services will be held at Greenwood Memorial Lawn Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. on February 24. Pastor George Harvey Jr. officiating the graveside service. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to The Phoenix Rescue Mission (https://phoenixrescuemission.org/) and/or the North Valley Freewill Baptist Church (https://nvfwbc.org/give).
Bible verse:
John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hearth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
We love you, grandma. You were a wonderful grandmother and I will cherish all my memories of you. I am at peace knowing that you are now in heaven with Jesus, grandpa and all of your beloved family. I know we will see each other again.
I met Vivian in 2012 when she worked next to me in a modular building at ADOT. She was my dear friend and we went to lunch on occasion. She loved the Lord and often spoke to me of how good He had been to her. Vivian was very intelligent and funny. She was a very hard worker and was 88 years old when I worked with her. I was inspired daily by her work ethic. I attended a birthday party for her 90th birthday at “My Mother’s” restaurant with some other ADOT employees and that was the last time I saw her. I feel blessed to have known her and I will treasure the friendship I had with her. RIP Vivian!
I’m so sorry the hear of Vivian’s passing. She was always a bright spot in my day any time that I saw her. I retired from ADOT in 1998, but came back as a returning retiree for another year or two. She was a wonder person and inspiration to me and so many others at the department. She always cares about knowing how our family was. May God hold her family in his arms and give them piece and comfort. She truly is in a better place.
Vivian always had a smile for us. She kept everyone in line but in a sweet, gentle way. I came often when she worked with Roadside Development. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this difficult time.