James Phillip Spencer

James Philip Spencer, Sr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 4, 2022. He was born to Una Mary Benoit on September 13, 1938, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was given up for adoption and became the child of J.D. and Lois Whitten Rucker, who gave him the name James Lee Rucker. He grew up in Port Arthur, Texas and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. While living in Jefferson County, he met the love of his life, Bette Frances Davis. They married on December 23, 1960. A few years later, they welcomed their only child, James Lee Rucker, II. He worked at Jefferson Chemical until he decided to start his own business with his adoptive father. Jimmy and his adoptive father built a thriving business, Rucker Building Supply, in Groves, Texas. In the early 90s he bought out his adoptive father's interest in the business and expanded the business until he sold it to one of his employees when he retired. Although work was in Jefferson County, holidays and weekends were spent in Tyler County, Bette's ancestral home. After the passing of his adoptive parents, Jimmy was adopted a second time by a long-time family friend, Mickey Spencer. At that time, the family changed their names to Spencer, with Jimmy and Jim changing their middle names to Philip to honor Mickey's late husband. Upon retirement, Jimmy and Bette moved to Tyler County full time. After the passing of Bette, he took over the care of his mother-in-law, Woodie "Bill" Cruse Davis. Jimmy is preceded in death by his wife, Bette Davis Spencer, his biological mother, Una Mary Benoit, his original adoptive parents, J.D. and Lois Rucker, his second adoptive mother, Mickey and her husband, Philip, his biological half-brother, David Gaspard and his in-law, Arvil and Bill Davis and Tim and Carol Bailey. He is survived by his son, James Philip Spencer, II, his daughter-in-law, Tracy L. Spencer and his two grandsons, Cameron Chance Lyons and James Philip "Trey' Spencer, III. Also mourning his loss are his half siblings, Thomas, Mary, Anita and Barbara. He and Mary spoke every week after he was able to find his biological family. He will be missed by his nephews, Wes Bailey and wife, Tiffany and Darren Bailey as well as Wes and Tiffany's three girls, Emily, Mallory and Audrey. Finally, he is survived by his special friend, Mary Ann Fortenberry. Visitation will be held Saturday, April 23, 2022, beginning at 2pm until service time at 3pm at Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home Chapel in Woodville with burial to follow in Pilgrim Rest Cemetery near Colmesneil. Officiating will be Reverend Gerald Domoneck. Serving as pallbearers will be Cameron Lyons, James Philip "Trey" Spencer III, Darren Bailey, Dr. Jeffrey Price, A.T. Durham and Jean Arabie. Honorary pallbearers will be Douglas Libby, Wesley Bailey and Dr. Jerry Springfield. Services will be live streamed through the Stringer and Griffin Facebook page. Services are under the direction of Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home in Woodville, Texas.