Barbara Elaine (Goodrum) Spry

Elaine was born on November 5th 1950 to Phillip and Ila Goodrum in Rotan, Texas.  She spent her preschool years in Sweetwater and Rotan and started school at Rotan in 1957. Her father was a Baptist pastor so they moved often as he was called to different churches.  Her family moved from Rotan to Lakeview, Texas in the Lubbock area as she was starting the fourth grade.  From there they went to Tahoka, then later to Ropesville where she met a young man named Dennis Snider and they were later married. Elaine and Dennis had 2 daughters, Tracy Lynn and Marty Gayle. They continued to live near Ropesville, southwest of Lubbock, where Dennis farmed.  In 1980 she and Dennis were divorced and Elaine and her girls moved to Lubbock where she worked in radio advertising sales. In 1985 she met the love of her life, J. Frank Spry, a tall young man with lots of hair and 2 little boys, James Michael and Jason Edward.  After a whirlwind romance she and J were married on August 24, 1985 and moved their new blended family to Guymon, Oklahoma where they made their first home together. They had little money, but they loved each other, and loved their family dearly.  She and J made a pact from the beginning that there would be no yours and mine, only ours. After 3 years in Guymon J was offered a new job in Laverne, and with the exception of a stint in Boise City they spent the rest of their lives together there. Elaine was always a perfectionist and an excellent seamstress. She enjoyed sewing and quilting.  If it involved a sewing machine and a spool of thread, Elaine enjoyed it!  She and J made friends along the way everywhere they lived and many of them have become lifelong friends. She and J also enjoyed fishing trips, antiques, checking out junk stores, and above all going to the mountains.  In summary, they loved each other and loved being together regardless of what they were doing.

Elaine loved fiercely!  She loved her husband, loved her children, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren, her friends, but most of all she loved her Lord, Jesus Christ. She was a tireless worker, working in the kitchen, cleaning, taking food to others, cleaning for others, wherever she saw a need. She had the heart of a servant, and loved serving in her church… as long as it did not involve her having to speak before others.  She could and would talk to anyone (or anything) but not in front of a crowd.  She hated being the center of attention, saying she would rather work quietly in the background and let others receive the credit. She truly had the heart of a servant.

As a child, Elaine gave her life to God, professing her faith in Jesus, never wavering from her beliefs. She was strong in her faith. She loved her church and especially her church family, and as has been shown so abundantly, was loved by her church family. She is a treasure.

In her later life, Elaine struggled with arthritis and back issues, eventually requiring a series of 7 spinal surgeries.  Following that she was stricken with a rare, progressive, and savage neurological disorder that over the past few years robbed her of all her abilities except her ability to show love to others. During this time J took over all of the work to sustain the household while dedicating his life to caring for Elaine. Even through such difficult times she and J continued to be active in their church. She rarely felt too bad to go, even through her greatest struggles. But during these times it was her church family who stepped up and showed their love by tirelessly supporting she and J. First Baptist Church, Laverne is truly a big loving family.

On May 29, 2025, Elaine departed this life and stepped into the presence of Jesus while in the arms of her husband J and with her daughters by her side. Our lives will never be the same. She leaves behind her husband J. Frank Spry of the home, her mother Ila Goodrum of Abilene, Texas, her brother, Don Goodrum and wife Susan of San Antonio, Texas, her daughters Tracy Lynn Evans and husband Gregg of Laverne, and Marty Gayle Smith and husband Marty of Edmond, her sons James Michael Spry of Guymon and Jason Edward Spry and wife Cortnie of Weatherford, Texas, grandchildren Shalene Bentley and husband Jayson, Chelsey Rolf, Daesha Keithley and husband Josh, Tucker Rolf, Bridgette Smith, Meaghan Skelton and husband Cody, Paige Smith, Jayden Santillan and husband Noe, Braylon Spry, Jayden Steeger and husband Luke, Emory Spry, and Sawyer Spry. She also leaves great grandchildren Cayden, Rylan, Ryder, Korbyn, Brody, Carter, Charlee, Brentley, Exzander, and Eliza. Elaine leaves a loving family and a great legacy of love and service to all.