Martin Louis “Spoonie” Witherspoon, 90, of Beaver Dam, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, at his residence. He was born March 16, 1922, in Madisonville, Ky., to the late John and Viola Pearl Owens. He was a member of the Church of Christ at Beaver Dam, Beaver Dam Lodge #420 F&AM, York Rite Shriners and was a retired coal miner from Peabody Coal Company. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and woodworking.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife, Zetta Witherspoon; one daughter, Rita Raymer; four sisters, Martha Daves, Audine Daniels, Sammie Wicks and Kathryn Cates and one great-granddaughter, Avery Hope Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Zora Simpson Geary Witherspoon of Beaver Dam; eight children, Janet Miller of Beaver Dam, Donald (Carolyn) Phipps of Beaver Dam, Barry Wade (Barbie) Geary of Olaton, David McKinley Geary of McHenry, Sheila Kay (Ron) Gravil of Bowling Green, Bryan Keith (Joy) Geary of Fordsville, Rickey Wayne Geary of Smithfield, Ky., and Mickey Lynn Geary of Hartford; one nephew, Ronnie Daves of Owensboro; two nieces, Yvonne Whitfield of Madisonville and Patsy Crawford of Madisonville; a son-in-law, Steve Raymer of Beaver Dam; 17 grandchildren, Donna, Sonny, Tony, Angie, Brandon, Heath, Bradford, Jeremy, Aaron, Martin, Bryanne, Arielle, Lauren, Bethany, Jon Michael, Stephanie and Karissa, 36 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam with Mike Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Sunnyside Cemetery in Beaver Dam. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. until the time of service Friday at the Funeral Home.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contribution to Hospice of Ohio County. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Online messages of condolence may be made at www.danksfuneralhome.com.