Kathleen "Kathy" Ann Spence

Kathleen Ann Spence, 74, of Charleston, Illinois passed away at 12:16 p.m. on December 16, 2025, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis after a hard fought battle of ALS and cancer, with her daughters and husband close by her side. Kathy was surrounded by love, her beloved WBGL Christian radio station playing around the clock and prayers from countless people in the months preceding her death.

Kathy was born on March 30, 1951, in Paris, Illinois to John and Lois (Childress) Snider. She married the love of her life, Mark Spence, on April 11, 1975. Kathy is survived by her husband Mark; daughters Holly Misener and Emily (Adam) Phipps; twin sister Karen (Lyle) Gannaway; brother Kevin (Paula) Snider; sister-in-law Debbie (late Bobby) Creech; brother-in-law Don “DB” (Marsha) Spence; brother-in-law Dan (Patty) Spence; grandchildren Ki, Zeke, and Selah Misener; Eva, Alan and Abigail Phipps. She also will be dearly missed by her several nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews as well. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Kathy devoted herself to her grandkids, kids and career selling real estate. She enjoyed serving and getting to know those she came in contact with and making sure they had the home they wanted most. Family was always a top priority for Kathy as she attended her daughters and grandchildren’s sporting events, choir concerts, livestock shows or spent time on her grandmother’s porch swing at the farm with family on Sunday afternoons. When not at one of those events, you could find her with friends telling them about her grandchildren. She will be missed by her family as she was their biggest fan. They will miss their cheerleader on the sidelines. 

Kathy worked 44 years as a realtor, with the last 13 being at All-American Reality. Kathy lived a life serving others through her career as a realtor as well as several service organizations including Carpenter’s Table, The Coalition for People in Need, Soup Stop and Sarah Bush Guild. She served on the Board of Directors at Standing Stone and was active for 46 years in the Epsilon Sigma Alpha service sorority. Kathy was a dedicated volunteer for 26 years at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Cancer Center. Kathy was a long-time member at Home Church where she helped as a greeter and could be found serving coffee on Sunday mornings.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday December 22, 2025, at Home Church in Charleston, Illinois. A Celebration of Life service will begin directly following the visitation at 6:00 p.m. at the church. A private family burial will be held at Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston. The Barkley Funeral Chapel in Greenup is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the WBGL radio station or Home Church.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.barkelyfuneralchapels.com

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