David Daniel Spencer Sr. was born on June 7, 1937, a Monday, in Tulalip, WA. He entered into rest on October 28, 2023, a Saturday.
David was raised by his grandparents, Katrina ‘Kwi-tee’ and Ambrose Bagley, on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. He graduated from Marysville High School in 1956. David served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1961. He attended Everett Community College and the University of Washington. David worked at the General Telephone Company (GTE) for thirty years before retiring in 1991.
He and his soulmate, Viola Carol Jones Spencer, were high school sweethearts and were married on April 7, 1958. They had four children, Doreen, Janel, David Jr., and Dawn Shirley. They were married for 39 years, until her death in 1997. In recent years, he found love again with his partner, Katherine Campbell.
David was a gentleman who was loved by all. He was a kind and gentle person with a warm heart. He was an artist, writer, poet, singer, and life-long learner.
David is survived by his children, Doreen and Peter Sieminski and David Spencer Jr. and Nancy Tom; his partner Katherine Campbell; his granddaughters, Nicole Sieminski and Dawn Marie Spencer; his great-grandchildren, Angelo and Gabriella; his sisters, Mildred and Vivian Spencer; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his wife Viola Jones Spencer; his daughters, Janel and Dawn Shirley Spencer; his grandson Daniel Sieminski; his parents, Agnes Sese and Richard Spencer Sr.; his grandparents, Katrina ‘Kwi-tee’ and Ambrose Bagley; and his siblings, Grace Meninick Goedel, Sophia Courville Spencer, Richard Spencer Jr., Ruth Zackuse, Infant Spencer, Neil LeClaire, Charles Francis Spencer, Nancy Spencer-Andre, Rose Cross, Harriet Spencer-Hillaire, George Spencer, Robert Spencer, Oscar Spencer, Stephen Spencer, Mary Spencer Jimicum, and Charles Spencer.
An interfaith service will be held Wed. Nov. 1, 2023 at 6 PM at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home. A celebration of his life will be held Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023 at 10 AM at the Tulalip Gathering Hall with burial to follow at Mission Beach Cemetery.