Estelle Bernice (Hutchens) Speece

Estelle Bernice Hutchens Speece, 81, of Union Grove, passed away Saturday, August 1, 2015 at the Gordon Hospice House.  She was born on July 23, 1934 in Iredell County to the late William David Hutchens and Julia Ruth Reavis Hutchens. Mrs. Speece attended Iredell County Schools and was a member of Hams Grove Baptist Church.  She was married to Ralph William Speece on September 2, 1955 and they enjoyed over 56 years of marriage before his passing on March 24, 2012.  She retired from T.L. Edwards where she was a seamstress. Along with her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Daniel and James Hutchens, a sister, Annie Belle Campbell, and her twin-sister, Esther Hutchens. Mrs. Speece is survived by two sons, William Speece, Jr. (Christine) and Daniel Speece, both of Union Grove, two grandsons, Eric Speece (Samantha) and Shannon Speece, and two great grandchildren, Harper and E.J. Speece.  She is further survived by two brothers, Richard Hutchens (Mary) and Robert Hutchens (Linda); five sisters, Ruth “Betty” H. Haynes, Lorena H. Elliott (Jerry), Christine H. Sloan (Howard), Josephine H. Hager (Bryant), and Jacqueline H. Boland; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Speece will be conducted 3:00 PM Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at Ham’s Grove Baptist Church with Rev. James Bumgarner and Rev. Jeremy Hickerson officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will visit with friends at the church prior to the service from 2:00 until 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.