James Donald Spears Sr. passed away April 3, 2013.  
He was the beloved husband of 50 years of Pamela Lee Spears, proud father of Donna Lee Spears Gray (Bill) and James Donald Spears Jr. (Kathleen), grandfather of Amanda Renee Spears and brother of Larry D. Spears Jr. and Elaine Spears. He is also survived by three nieces and nephews,  four great nieces/nephews, many loving relatives and countless friends he made all over the world.   
He was preceded in death by his father, Larry D. Spears Sr., and mother, Ozeite Rosa Spears.  
Donald was born in Jacksonville, Fla., spent the WWII years in Cottonport and later years in New Orleans. He served in the U.S. military as a Navy Sea Bee. Among his tours in the Navy, he served in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during the Bay of Pigs and marched in President John Kennedy’s inaugural parade. After that time, he was an ironworker and estimator in the New Orleans area, erecting many of the buildings, bridges and other structures in the area. As an avid sportsman, his favorite pastime was sharing his love of hunting and fishing with his family and friends. He was a 50-year member of the Jefferson Lodge 191 F&AM and instructed countless members in their degree work through the years.   
He will be most remembered for his natural ability at making friends, his quick wit and easy laugh. He valued those friendships and was an avid storyteller of the adventures and memories that were a part of his life with his family and those greatly cherished friends.  
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home, 4080 W. Airline Highway, Reserve, LA 70084.