James R. Spivey, Jr., 32, of Corpus Christi, Texas lost his struggle with cancer on Feb. 8, 2019. Rick was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Nov. 11, 1986, and spent his formative years in Rochester, Minnesota, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and LaGrange, Georgia. He was a 2005 graduate of LaGrange High School, where he excelled academically and as a member of the football and wrestling teams. Rick had many proud memories of the great LaGrange High School State Championship football teams, on which he played as an offensive guard. He was named Offensive Lineman of the Year his junior and senior years. Rick enrolled at Tulane University two days before Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.He ultimately transferred to Texas Tech University where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in mechanical engineering in December 2012. He then moved to Amarillo, Texas to become plant manager for the Elementis Corporation. He was soon reunited with a former Texas Tech classmate from Amarillo, Renee Chancler, whom he married in 2016. In 2017, Rick and Renee welcomed into the world the joy of their lives, their daughter, Raylee. Together, they moved to Corpus Christi where Rick was promoted to the management team at the Corpus Christi Elementis Plant. Despite many surgical procedures and treatment courses required in the eight years between his cancer diagnosis and his death, Rick became an honor graduate, successful plant manager, dedicated husband, father, and friend.

Rick is survived by his wife, Renee Nichole Spivey, his daughter, Raylee Jane Spivey, his parents, James Richard and Katie Long Spivey of Phoenix, Arizona, and his loving, younger brother, Joseph Spivey of Atlanta, Georgia. Rick will be especially missed by his Amarillo family, Renee’s parents Kelly and Bonnie Chancler, who loved and treated Rick as a son, and Renee’s brothers Justin and Brandon and their families. He was adored and will be missed by many uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews in both families. Rick also leaves his many devoted friends and former classmates in the Red Raider Network who unconditionally and unfailingly loved and supported him throughout his illness. 

The family wishes to thank Dr. Shiao-Pei Weathers, Dr. Sherise Ferguson and the staff of MD Anderson Clinic and Hospital, including the many nurses and therapists who cared for Rick and Renee.

The funeral service for Rick will be held at the Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, TX, 3801 S. Western St. at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14 with Dr. Andrew Hebert officiating. Burial will be in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo,TX.

The family would like to encourage memorial contributions be sent to the James R. “Rick” Spivey, Jr., Memorial Scholarship at Texas Tech University (http://donate.give2tech.com/?fid=IA000399, Rick Spivey Memorial Scholarship Fund).

Sign the online guestbook at www.boxwellbrothers.com.