My dad, Willis A. Springer, Jr. – AKA Bill, Dad, Grandpa, Mr. Springer, or Mr. Foot died on April 24, 2019 at the age of 74. My dad was born on July 20, 1944 in Meridian, Mississippi to Willis A. “Bill” Sr. and Betty Springer. He and my mom, Mark were married after falling in love while teaching at Cape Junior High on August 8, 1970 and spent the next 48 years together making memories.
He was an incredible father to my late brother, Trey and myself; a role-model and father-in-law to my husband, Jason; as well as a loving grandfather to Savanna and Zach who brought him so much joy. As an only child, my dad found entertainment and joy from reading and spending countless hours in the library with his grandmother as well as many afternoons in the movie theater. He joined the Boy Scouts as a child and continued into adulthood spending many summers at Camp Lewallen making a multitude of friends.
He also enjoyed his time as a student while at the University of Tennessee-Martin where he earned his degree in Secondary education. My dad, moved to Cape Girardeau to begin his teaching career at Cape Central Jr. High where he began to grow into who so many people know as Mr. Springer or just Springer. He later moved to Cape Senior High where my dad fully came into his own as an educator and mentor.
According to many accounts, he managed to always make History, English and Reading interesting. He took a stint from teaching to be principal at St. Vincent de Paul Grade School and to work at Sohn’s Menswear. My dad made an impact on everyone he met regardless of where he was serving.
He was either making your mind sharper or he was making you dress sharper or just trying to trick you to look down at your shirt. My dad seemed to know everyone. He saw people he knew everywhere we went.
He either taught them or their children and was sincerely interested in the people they or their children had become. He was a force to be reckoned with no doubt. His smile was infectious and his wit was always entertaining and most often memorable.
While he was a classroom favorite and made such an impact on so many lives through teaching and just being Bill, it was his family that was his center. He was a family man at heart carrying out the duties of being a son, husband, father and grandfather to the highest degree. He was a doting son and a loving husband.
He has been the best dad a girl could ever have. I smile as I envision him and my brother reunited as it is my brother’s turn to be with him. My dad is survived by his loving wife, Mark; his daughter Susan (Jason) Ayers; grandchildren, Savanna and Zach Ayers; sister-in-law, Vicki McMullen; many adopted family members- you know who you are- and countless friends.
He also leaves behind his two beloved dogs. I pray we continue to celebrate this man who has celebrated and loved so many of us. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 26 from from 3:30 to 8:30 pm at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau.
Visitation will continue on Saturday, from 8:30 to 9:30 am at the church with the funeral mass and celebration following at 10:00 am. Burial will take place directly after at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of Trey or the Trey Springer Scholarship Fund at Notre Dame Regional High School.
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