Spencer Lavender, Jr.

Spencer Lavender, Jr. of Cibecue, Arizona passed away with his family by his side on March 27, 2019 at his home in Cibecue. He was 73. Spencer was affectionately known by many as “Bunny” or “Spam.” He was born on February 18, 1946 in Whiteriver, Arizona to the late Spencer Lavender, Sr. and Annie (Haven) Lavender.

Spencer was a champion basketball player having won many trophies and awards throughout the state. He was very fast on and off the court. He loved telling his family stories of his days spent on the court and often joked that Michael Jordan had nothing on him. He enjoyed running and spent many times in San Carlos, St. Johns and Payson participating in 5k runs. He also was quite good at horseshoes and loved the competition it brought on.

He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter, fisherman and camper. He worked for over 35 years in the logging industry. He was a humble man who never met a stranger. He had a wealth of knowledge and many people looked up to him, especially his family.

Spencer married the love of his life, Angela Case, at the Catholic Church in Cibecue and together they enjoyed 48 wonderful years of marriage. He and Angela raised many children under their roof. He taught them how to cook, work hard and eventually everything you have is made “under your hands.” Spencer passed on to his sons that respect and love for women was the most important thing to remember and how to be a great family man.

He truly enjoyed being around his children and grandchildren and was proud to be their #1 fan. He was always in the bleachers rooting them on during their basketball games. He looked forward to his many joyrides with them and joked that he was a taxi driver to many of them.

Spencer had a deep love for his Lord and Savior. He read and studied the Old Testament in Apache and taught his faith in his native language. He was a Co-Pastor and Adult Teacher for the House of Prayer Church, his home church, in Cibecue. He was an avid reader of the White Mountain Independent and expanding his knowledge whenever he could.

He is survived by his beautiful bride, Angela Lavender of Cibecue; children: Gabriel Case, Dewayne (Velmore) Lavender, Ricardo Lavender, Cy (April) Lavender and Janicka Lavender of Cibecue; grandchildren, Deaundre, Dedrick, Katie, Ky, Annie, Ailaynie, Cyrus, Aiden, Jack, Gabrielle and Taylor; great-grandchild, Cabrielle; 3 Godchildren, Raphaela Case, Manuel Cheney and Megan Dale and 2 sisters, Letha (Wallen) Endfield and Annabelle Lupe; sisters-in-law, Euphrasia Danford, Anna Patterson, Dorothy Roehrig, Frances Pina and Bernadette Ivins of Cibeuce as well as brothers-in-law, Harvey Pina and Eddie Roehrig of Cibecue.  

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Randy Haven.

A two night wake will be held 10:00 A.M. Thursday, April 4, 2019 at the family home in Cibecue. Funeral services will be held 1:00 P.M. Saturday, April 6, 2019 at the Cibecue Pentecostal Church with Pastor Raymond Pablo, Sr. officiating. Interment will follow in the Open Range Cemetery in Cibecue.