Dates
Allan Brady Spearman, age 85, of San Angelo, Texas, passed from this earth to the heavenly realms on June 10, 2026. He was born in Georgia to Garland and Betty Spearman. He married his high school sweetheart, Laura Watkins and they were married 66 years. He graduated from Georgia State College (now University) with a BS Degree in Biological Sciences in 1963 and within one month joined the National Park Service as a Park Ranger at Big Bend National Park. While at Big Bend he helped orient several groups of troubled youth from therapeutic camping program out of Dallas, Texas, as they made extended back country treks in the park. Later, at the invitation of the Director of this program, he decided to join the camping program centered in East Texas as a senior counselor to the teenage male youth and as a means of accomplishing his Christian service. His family lived in a log cabin at the camp while he worked with the youth in group work at the wilderness type camp and on extensive trips. One of these was a two and a half month long Tom Sawyer type river trip on a 14 x 32 ft. raft of pine poles and 55 gallon oil drums his campong group designed and built themselves, launching from Denison, Texas, floating and camping along the Red River through the Mississippi River all the way to New Orleans, Louisiana, about 1,100 miles – a true unforgettable adventure.
Later, while serving at the camp he was selected to help create and become the first Program Director for Girls Adventure Trails, a privately operated therapeutic camping program which became a nationally recognized program for troubled girls out of Dallas, Texas. The US Department of Health Education and Welfare (HEW), which partially funded the program, produced and distributed a booklet about the therapeutic camping program as a national model. Additionally, a documentary film was produced and distributed by a Dallas Network TV station. After five years in this program, he was selected to join the State of Texas in its specialized camping and institutional programs for adjudicated youth where he served in managerial and administrative roles and retired after more than 20 years of service. During his tenure with juvenile justice system, he earned his Master of Education degree from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas.
Throughout his life, Allan was an avid outdoors person—hunting, fishing, camping, a runner, a roller blader, a kayaker and canoeist, and a long-time motorcyclist. Over the years, he and his family moved over twenty times associated with his jobs, living in Georgia, Mississippi, Arizona, and Texas. He and Laura RV’ed through all the lower 48 States, and parts of Canada and Mexico visiting relatives, National Parks, Parkways and other scenic areas. He particularly relished getting to the high points in his travels and taking photographs of sunsets and the natural environment.
He joined the Baptist Church at age 10 and became a Christian at 13, read through the Bible at 14, worked with troubled youth as a personal Christian service and remained an active Christian, truly blessed by the Lord till his last day. He particularly enjoyed his association with the fellow Christians in Senior activities at Glen Meadows Baptist Church in San Angelo, TX, during his later years.
Allan was preceded in death by his beloved parents, and both sets of grandparents, one younger sister, all his wonderful aunts, uncles and several cousins from Georgia. He is survived by his wife, Laura, his children, Douglas and wife Lori, of Lubbock, TX, Catherine and husband Patrick of Monahans, TX, Bryan and wife Kay of Mansfield, TX, and Roger and wife Jennifer of Christoval, TX, plus 10 grandchildren, who, in turn, blessed them with fifteen great grandchildren. Allan chose to be cremated, and at his request, there was a private service. Condolences may be posted online at Harper Funeral Home in San Angelo, TX.