BARBARA SPEIR
1926-2021
Barbara Jean Puffer Speir passed in the comfort of her own home on Tuesday, the 12th of January 2021. She was 94 years of age. She was born on the 28th May 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated in 1944 from Webster Groves High School in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri. She then moved to Texas and graduated from Texas State College for Women (now Texas Woman’s University) in 1948 where she earned BA in social work.
She began work for the City of Houston in 1949 and worked as an Executive Secretary for the City of Houston for 32 years and retired in September of 1980. She worked in the City of Houston’s Real Estate Department, handling the details of many projects on the growth of the city including civic improvement projects such as the Houston Intercontinental Airport. Houston Mayor Jim McConn declared Friday, the 5th of September 1980 as “Barbara Speir Day” in the City of Houston following her retirement.
On the 16th of June 1967, she married Clifton Earl Speir in Houston. Clifton also worked for the City of Houston as Senior Assistant City Attorney, specializing in eminent domain. Clifton brought two children to the union from a previous marriage, Thomas Earl and Linda Sue, both of whom Barbara cared for as her own. Barbara and Clifton remained married until his death on the 8th of October 2007. They were married for 40 years.
She participated in various choirs, and is remembered for being talented in oil painting and gardening (farm and home gardening). She and Clifton were active members of Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Houston for many years. Christ Church Cathedral serves as the cathedral church for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Helen Puffer, one brother, William Sidnam Puffer, and one sister, Mary Virginia Puffer, and one grand-daughter, Nicole Renee Ward Reichert Torrence.
She is survived by her step-children, Thomas and Sue Speir, one niece, Patricia Helen Bailey Redifer, and nephews Mark Bailey II, William James Puffer and Daniel Frank Puffer. She is also survived by two grand-daughters, Victoria Ellyn Speir Lynn and Tomlyn Elizabeth Speir Grey of Woodlawn, Texas, and by two great-grandchildren, Beau Tyler Reichert and Lindsay Suzanne Reichert of Moscow Mills, Missouri.
The family will gather for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.
A memorial service at Christ Church Cathedral will be held at a later date.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Barbara’s name may be directed to the Endowment Fund of Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, Texas 77002.