John Michael Speer

John Michael Speer Jr. was born April 11, 1960, to John Michael ‘Mike’ Speer and Patricia Lorraine Williams Speer in Corpus Christi, Texas. John Passed away July 18, 2024, in Harlingen, Texas at the age of 64.

John grew up in Harlingen, where he attended Harlingen High School. His hobbies and sports included swimming, participating in school theater productions and playing the piano. He was very involved with Key Club and Speech Drama Club at HHS. A student of Anne Stone in Harlingen, John was an extraordinarily talented pianist. John won many awards for his performances that included five superior ratings and a gold trophy cup from the National Federation of Music Clubs Piano Festival. He also received five critic circle ratings for top talent from the National Guild of Piano Teachers. As a representative for the Rio Grande Valley Music Teachers Association, he won first place at the 1977 Civitan Citizenship talent show in Austin.

After graduating from HHS in 1978, he received a congressional appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Although he was prepared and dedicated to serving his country, he was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard Academy due to a previously undiscovered congenital back condition. 

John then received a scholarship to attend Baylor University. While there, he continued his interest in theater and music productions. He enjoyed disc jockeying for the college radio station. John graduated from Baylor University in 1982 with a degree in finance. In order to further his education, he then attended the University of Texas to obtain his master’s in business administration. John was honored to direct the humorous ‘Twelfth Night’ comedic skits production. John Graduated from University of Texas in 1984. He remained a devoted Longhorns fan throughout the rest of his life.

John began his career in banking at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. He then accepted a position at a bank in Atlanta, Georgia. It was there that he married Brenda Sue Burleson of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1989 John then accepted a job at First Bank of Chicago. After moving to Chicago, John and Brenda started their family.

John returned to Palm Valley in 2001 where he cared devotedly for his mother in her golden years. They enjoyed cooking gourmet delicacies together, preferably with a lively football game on.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his Uncle Dr. Thomas Read Williams Jr, Aunt June Ella Williams, and cousin Thomas Read Williams III.

Left to cherish John’s memory in life are his eldest daughter, Bianca Renee Speer of Wheaton, IL; his daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth Annabelle Malone & Paul Malone of Dublin, Ireland; son Trevor Scott Speer of North Carolina; his sister Molly Speer Wood and brother-in-law Jerry Wood of Fort Worth, Texas; cousin Risa Williams Hensley and her husband Bryan of Bolivar, Missouri.

 Service for John Michael Speer Jr. will take place Friday, July 26th, 2024 at 2:00pm at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home, San Benito TX.