Obituary of John Eugene Speagle

John Eugene Speagle, had musical knack Saying that John Eugene Speagle had a knack for music would be an understatement. Despite having no formal musical training, Speagle could figure out how to play a song on a number of instruments after having only heard the tune a few times. "If the instruments had strings, he could play it," said a son, Mark Speagle, of Independence. "He played it all by ear. In fact, I don't think he ever learned how to read music. It was just a gift." Mr. Speagle, 78, of Independence, died Friday at St. Elizabeth Hospice Unit, Covington. He was a retired tool and die maker with Liebel-Flarsheim Co. in Reading, Ohio, and a member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Independence. He was an Army veteran of World War II and was part of a peacekeeping convoy during the Nuremberg trials of Nazis accused of war crimes. He later received a letter of commendation from President Harry Truman. Speagle had a special love for country and bluegrass music, spending his days listening to legends like Bill Monroe, Marty Robbins and Merle Haggard. He often combined his love of music with another passion: camping. "Every year we took a camping vacation somewhere," Mark Speagle said. "He'd take his instruments to the campground and play for everyone. If it was a place he had visited before, they usually begged him to play." While on these trips, Mr. Speagle used to wake early in the morning just to explore the area. His son said Mr. Speagle at times worked two jobs to support the family, but that didn't stop him from helping others. "He never was a man of wealth, but if he ever found out any relative's kids were doing without, he would see that they were taken care of," Mark Speagle said. "In his entire life, I think he only missed work twice, and that was for operations." Following 40 years of dedicated service at his job, Speagle was able to purchase a winter home for him and his wife in Leesburg, Fla. "He loved the warm weather down there during the winter," Mark Speagle said. "Probably the only thing that kept him coming back (to Northern Kentucky) was his children, grandchildren and friends." Other survivors include his wife, Geneva Robinson Speagle, to whom he was married for 57 years; daughters Brenda Thomas of Corbin, Beverly Ivey of Taylor Mill and Debi Lyons of Independence; a son, Matthew Speagle of Independence; and eight grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery, Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 11969 Taylor Mill Road, Independence, Ky. 41051; or American Heart Association, 1885 Dixie Highway, Suite 250, Fort Wright, Ky. 41011.