| Spackey retires from tickling the ivories |
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| Written by By BILL RYAN Sentinel Religion Editor | ||
| Saturday, 12 June 2010 07:19 | ||
Spackey's mother was a piano teacher, so he was playing the keyboard before his feet could touch the floor or pedals. He began playing regularly at worship services just after becoming a teenager. He has spent nearly three-quarters of a century enhancing worship services. At age 13, he first played at the church in Jerry City, Though playing at "quite a number of churches" over more than seven decades, most of his service was at Jerry City and for the last roughly 50 years at Mt. Zion United Brethren Church in rural Wayne. The Wayne church honored him along with a fellow keyboard artist, Melva Powers, recently during a worship service. Both have retired from their music service to the church. "At 86 it's time to slow down a bit," Spackey said, while admitting he will still likely be called upon to play somewhere from time to time. Over those decades the music styles in church have changed. While Spackey has adjusted to the new contemporary music, he still favors the hymns on which he was raised. Rev. Howard Munn was the pastor at Mt. Zion when Spackey was hired to do the music ministry in the late 1960s. "He was both a pianist and organist. He could play by note or by ear, and that was a wonderful thing," Munn recalled of those early years. Beyond the church connection, the two have been lifelong friends, with Spackey being in Munn's wedding. "I've known him since he was just a young fellow," Munn said. "He is one of my closest friends. We talk at least once a week." Phyllis Nietz has also known Spackey since high school years, and has enjoyed his service to the Wayne church, calling him "one of Wood County's best." She is impressed with his abilities to arrange music and go immediately to the right key. "He has the ability to do whatever people need musically to help them out, it's no big deal for him," she said. For decades, Spackey has also been involved with the music for the annual Portage Holiness Camp. "He is an outstanding musician and an outstanding person, he would stand out among any group," Nietz said. Spackey, a Jerry City resident, never married. "I was too busy, but that was just an excuse," he said. As one might expect of a church keyboard musician, Spackey says he has played for hundreds of weddings and funerals. One memorable wedding for him was when an elderly preacher forgot to have the congregation sit after the bride marched down the aisle and everyone remained standing for the entire wedding ceremony. Beyond church services, Spackey has accompanied gospel quartets, including the Gospel Messengers of Findlay. Spackey, like his mother, also gave private piano lessons. Music was also Spackey's career. He is a retired music teacher, having taught in Cygnet, Portage, Webster, Northwood and Fostoria. For the last 10 years of his career he traveled more than 100 miles each day round-trip to teach at Allen East, a school system near Lima. When not involved in music, Spackey says he enjoys his hobby of photography and traveling. He has visited at least 20 countries and recalls being pulled into a church in England where a big pipe organ was being played. That was a memorable experience for him. "Some of the big pipe organs in Europe are just fantastic," he said. The humble servant was very appreciative of the special service at Mt. Zion to thank him. "It was really good to see the people from the past," Spackey said of visitors who returned for the special service which honored him and Powers. Among those in attendance was Munn who summed up Spackey's approach saying, "He never saw a B-flat that he didn't like." Though now retired Spackey will go forward with "Onward Christian Soldiers" worshiping that "Old Time Religion." |
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Comments
I now live in Tennessee, but remember you quite well from my grade school days at Webster in the 1950's. I still remember you fondly as my all time favorite "school days" music teacher. I still sing in our church choir plus a volunteer community choir which is affiliated with a small local Presbyterian college. I'm certain my current choir interests are significantly influenced by my "Mr. Spackey" days at Webster.
Congratulations to you, Mr. Spackey on your retirement. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Robert(Bob) Moore
Afton, Tennessee
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