Alfred Lewis Spotts

ALFRED LEWIS SPOTTS Alfred Lewis Spotts was born on May 8, 1919, in Milford, Mich. to George and Lena Schaefer Spotts. Lena died in childbirth. George married Kate Carmichael, and they raised Al and his twin brother, Frank. Al passed away at Vista Grande Inn in Cortez, Colo. on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at age 93. After growing up mainly in Pontiac, Mich., and spending summers in Hope, Ind., Al graduated from Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti, Mich. in 1941 and Pittsburgh-Zenia Seminary (now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) in 1944. He married Martha Jean Creswell in April, 1941. Ordained as a Presbyterian Minister, Al served churches in West View, Penn.; New Brighton, Penn.; Sterling, Kan. (1951-1971); Oswego, Kan.; and Columbus, Kan.; and served one year as administrator of the Kansas City Presbyterian Manor. Al retired in 1984 but continued to stay active in the ministry serving as interim pastor in several churches in Kansas and Colorado (including Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church in 1988-89 and Rico Community Church in 1994) and filling in as needed for many years. In 1960, Al served as Moderator of the Synod of Kansas. He served on the Board of Trustees, Sterling College, Sterling, Kan., and was honored with a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Sterling College in 1961. The Sterling Presbyterian Church made him Pastor Emeritus in 2002. In 2006, they moved to Vista Mesa Assisted Living in Cortez, and they moved to Vista Grande Inn in 2010. Al and Jean had two daughters and six sons. Joe and John died in June 2008. Jean died in February, 2012. Al is survived by his twin brother, Frank, Port Huron, Mich. Surviving sons include Al and wife, Maggie Steptoe, Louisville, Ky., Andy, Chicago, Ill., Jim, Mariposa, Calif., Tim, Concord, Calif. Surviving daughters are Ann and husband, Chuck Haspels, Cortez, Colo., and Jan and husband, Jim McHenry, Houston, Tex. Grandchildren are Tamara Haspels, Portland, Ore., Molly Haspels Wickstrom and husband, Scott Wickstrom, Arvada, Colo., Chad Haspels and wife, Jennifer, Pagosa Springs, Colo., Sarah Spotts and husband, Kevin Covey, Flagstaff, Ariz., Kathryn Spotts and husband, Nick Lienesch, Minneapolis, Minn., Libby Spotts, Minneapolis, Minn., Celeste Spotts, Glenwood, Iowa, James, Joel, and Josh McHenry, Houston, Tex. Great grandchildren are Ryley and Calvan Wickstrom, Arvada, Colo. A memorial service will be held at the United Presbyterian Church, Sterling, Kan., with burial at the Sterling Cemetery. Memorials can be sent to Al and Jean Spotts Endowment for Servant Leadership, Sterling College, Sterling, Kan., 67579 or to Hospice of Montezuma P.O. Box 740, Cortez, Colo. 81321.