Carson Spease

CARSON ELDON SPEASE

On June 28, 1917 in Lancaster, Wisconsin, twin boys were born to David and Elizabeth Benoy Spease. One baby did not survive. The baby who lived was given the name Carson Elden Spease. He had two older brothers and two older sisters. Later two more brothers were born. At the age of nine, the Family moved to Independence. Here he was baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by Elder Ward L. Christy - a covenant to which he remained Faithful throughout his life.
This was a boy who grew up during the years of the depression, a boy whose formal education ended with the 8th grade because he had to go to work. And work he did--in a filling station on a farm, for a Livestock Commission Company, and caring for and helping train race horses, one of which a horse named Lawrin, won the Kentucky Derby in 1938.
When times were better, this young man overheard the grandmother of his best Friend, Charlie Leake, say that she would love to go to Stewartsvi11e, MO to attend the Far West Stake RLDS Reunion which years before she and her husband had attended in a covered wagon.
By now the owner of an almost new Ford coupe, Carson told the lady that he and Charlie would take her to the reunion. During the day they were there, they felt the peaceful spirit of the reunion and wished they could stay, but they needed to be at work the next day. Then a young lady caught Carson’s eye. Without even knowing her name or where she was from, he said to Charlie "That’s the girl I’m going to marry!” An hour or so later, they were introduced by a mutual friend. Carson and Charlie drove back to Independence, packed clothing, bedding, and other necessary items, made arrangements to take off work, and returned to Stewartsville for the remainder of the Reunion.
After their first date, neither Carson nor Marjorie ever looked at anyone else. Almost every Saturday, Carson made the 120 mile drive from his home east of Independence to her home west of Fortescue, MO. They were married April 5, 1941 just before he was to be inducted into the Army.
After his induction into the Army at Fort Leavenworth, Carson was assigned to a Field Artillery Battalion of the 13th Armored Division which was being activated in Camp Beale, California. Soon after basic training, Marjorie joined him there just in time to sew Corporal stripes on all his uniforms, only to have to rip them off a month later and replace them with his Sergeant’s stripes. The 13th Armored, soon to be known as The Black Cats was the first division to be activated in California, and the state decided to adopt it as “California’s Own.” One soldier From each rank was chosen to welcome and escort Governor Earl Warren (Later Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court] who came the previous evening, spent the night in an ordinary barracks, gave the adoption speech, and then with his escorts reviewed the display of armored might in a very long parade. Carson never knew how from 13,000 men in the division, he was chosen to represent his rank of Sgt., but it was considered an honor. A short time later, Carson was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to school. After finishing school, he was asked to stay on as an instructor in Wheel Vehicles, which would have meant that he would not go overseas. He chose to return to the 13th, which had moved to Camp Bowie, Texas while he was in school. From Camp Bowie, the Division was sent to


Europe, arriving at La Havre, France on what was said to be the coldest and snowiest January on record. Carson’s battle ribbons have stars denoting participation in the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle for the Ruhr Valley. He was awarded a Bronze Star for bravery under heavy fire in the Ruhr Valley, but at the awards ceremony, he refused to accept the medal because the five buddies who were with him were not also receiving a medal. He said "I gave the order, but they were with me all the way and they deserve the medal as much as I do. The 13th was part of Patton’s Third Army. They liberated prison camps along their way, and Carson said that aside from the awful smell of burning human flesh, one of the hardest things of the war was when these poor emaciated men, many of whom were too weak to walk without help, came to meet the soldiers with big smiles on their faces. When the war in Europe ended in May, 1945, the Black Cats had just taken back, Austria-- the birthplace of Adolph Hitler and were driving toward his Eagle Nest hideout. The Division returned to the United States in late July, 1945. After a 30-day rest and recuperation furlough followed by a short period of training, the Black Cats were scheduled to participate in the in­vasion of the Japanese Homeland beginning November. While he was home, the announcement came that Japan had unconditionally surrendered. Many servicemen have always been grateful to President Harry S Truman.
Upon his discharge from the Army, Carson again became a student, doing high school studies and also four years in Agriculture under the GI Bill with Missouri University.
This was a young man who together with his wife had saved enough money to furnish their home and to buy a new tractor and enough machinery to gain the career he had always dreamed of, farming for himself. This career was to span 35 years--six years in the Missouri River bottom of Northwest Missouri, and the remainder in the Atherton area near Independence. He accomplished many things and earned many plaques and awards. A couple which he treasured most were a framed citation from the President of the University of Missouri for his service on the University Extension Council of Jackson County where he served consecutive three-year terms as Vice-Chairman and as Treasurer; and a certificate from the Top Farmers of America organization. Carson had served on the Board of Directors of the Warrensburg Production Credit Association, and was a recipient of the Jackson County Farm Family the Year Award. He valued and supported the Boy Scouts of America and served several years as a Committeeman and as a Merit Badge Counsellor in four fields.
Here was a man who supported and encouraged his two children, Gary and Connie through school, music lessons, roller skating lessons, Scouts, Orioles, Little League, Band, Athletics, Scholarship, etc. and raised them to be honest upright citizens. He was pleased to see his son and both his grandsons attain the Eagle Rank in Scouting, and were happy to see both Gary and Connie receive their University degrees in the fields of their own choosing.
Here was a man loved and respected by his children and their mates and by his grandsons. He was respected and accepted as a friend by many of their friends and co-workers. On the farm, he made a volley-ball court, and he always enjoyed a good volleyball or horse-shoe game with his children and their friends. Carson enjoyed having picnics at the farm followed by hayrides for Gary and Connie and their friends
and for various departments of the church. At a gathering for Blue Valley Stake young adults and their families, Carson built three huge bonfires for roasting wieners, etc. For the hayride, three tractors were used, each pulling three wagons, all full of people. The hayrides had to be discontinued when insurance became necessary and rates were prohibitive. Carson never charged for these hayrides. He always enjoyed doing things for others.
Here was a man who had given his life in service to Christ, including serving as Pastor in two congregations - one in Far West Stake and one in Blue Valley Stake. He has worked on Youth Councils, and had been a Bishop's Agent for several years. He directed the Priesthood Visiting program for the Atherton congregation for many years, had served as Zion’s League leader, Adult leader, and assistant Presiding Elder, then as Presiding Elder during which time he was also president of the R-l Fort Osage District Ministerial Alliance. He also served as president of one of the t