Cleo Mower Spencer, age 92, cherished companion, mother of 2, grandmother of 12, and great grandmother of 33, peacefully passed into the waiting arms of loved ones on January 29 in her family home of 68 years. Cleo was born on September 22, 1921 in Fairview, Utah as the third of six children of Heber Lavern and Ethel Louisa Stewart Mower. She graduated with honors from North Sanpete High School in 1940. It was there she developed her excellent skills in typing and shorthand which she used throughout her life. While she was in her third year at BYU, she took a Government Services Test just for fun. Her scores were so high she quickly received a telegram requesting her to come work in Washington D. C. Wanting more adventure in her life, she accepted the job offer and served in The Office of the Chief of Ordinance of the War Department. She later moved with the office to Detroit, Michigan.
While in Detroit, she attended a New Year's Eve dance at the LDS Church. It was there she met Glen Ivan Spencer from Aitkin, Minnesota. He was working in Toledo, Ohio and had come to Detroit for the dance. Glen was so taken with Cleo that two days later he quit his job in Toledo and got a new job in Detroit so he could court her. Their friendship blossomed as they rode the street car to and from church. Eventually they bought a 1939 Oldsmobile Sports Coupe. With the help of both wedding present and finagled gas ration stamps, they drove the legal speed limit of 35 mph to Manti, Utah. They were married in the Manti Temple on June 22, 1944. In April of 1945, they purchased their home on The Avenues in Salt Lake City. It was in this home that both Glen and Cleo peacefully passed on.Cleo loved traveling with her family, exploring new places, and daring to try things that would stretch her. At the age of 43, she learned to ski. At 77, being terrified of heights and unable to swim, she jumped off a 35 foot cliff into the ocean at Waimea Bay, Hawaii with the help of her grandson and son-in-law. Perhaps it was this same courage that helped her overcome cancer twice. Cleo's greatest commitment was to her family. When she no longer had school age children coming home for lunch, she began volunteering at the Utah Division of The American Cancer Society. She eventually became the assistant to the director and retired after 25 years.
Everyone that knew Cleo loved her. She was a genuine listener, made every grandchild, niece, nephew, or friend feel like her favorite; kept the cookie jar full, prayed about each person in her family, was a hard worker, and had an ever positive "a-t-t-i-t-u-d-e" that was contagious.As a devoted member of the LDS Church, Cleo served faithfully in many positions bringing commitment and sparkle to each calling she held. She leaves a powerful example to her family who will miss her greatly. We rejoice in knowing she is with her sweetheart who has patiently waited six years for her. Cleo is preceded in death by her husband and survived by their 2 children, Leslie (Sandy) Spencer, RuthAnn (David) Smith, 12 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, her sister Ila Larsen, her brother Morris Mower, and many adoring nieces and nephews.
Funeral services celebrating Cleo's life will be held Tuesday, February 4 at the 21st North Ward on 2nd Ave and K Street at 11 a.m. Friends may greet the family at Larkin Mortuary 260 E. South Temple on Monday, February 3, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. and at the chapel on Tuesday, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment will be in Fairview, Utah.
