Wayne Edward Speer, 75, died at ease and surrounded by love, at his home in Jonesborough, Tennessee, on July 6, 2023. Wayne lived life with joie de vivre, the joy of life, and his infectious grin and great good humor made him loved by all who knew him. He had many passions in life; camping and hiking, flying, skiing, sailing, excellent food and drink, travel, music, gardening, and good times with family and friends.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee to Harold and Bobbie Speer, he graduated from Kingsbury High School where he played numerous sports, performed in theatre, and loved to dance at sock hops. He then attended Memphis State University (now University of Memphis), while working as a ramp agent for Southern Airways, a job that gave him a lifelong love of aviation and led to numerous flying lessons. During his high school and early college years, he also developed a passion for camping, hiking, backpacking, and photography from his many jaunts with the intrepid Haskell family.

After moving to Blacksburg, Virginia, in 1970, he attended and graduated from Radford University with a degree in Special Education, motivated by a mentally challenged young cousin. He began a very successful career as a gifted teacher of children with special needs at Christiansburg (Virginia) Middle School and later for two years in Austin, Texas. Returning to Blacksburg, he completed a master’s degree in counseling at Virginia Tech and was subsequently hired by Virginia Tech as the disability services director and ADA (American with Disabilities Act) compliance officer. He was most proud of helping a totally blind student finish her degree in Electrical Engineering.

In 1972, during a summer off from teaching, he completed a camping trip from coast to coast across Canada, covering 10,000 miles in six weeks in a Volkswagen Beetle with two dogs in tow and a sighting of the Northern Lights. In 1978, he made his first overseas trip to spend Christmas in England and was forever bitten by the travel bug.

During his years at Virginia Tech, he got to travel to many parts of the United States and Canada, the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Belgium, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland, often with great friends and hilarious tales to tell later. Those who knew Wayne well will remember oft-told stories of his impersonation of Superman in long johns and pulling the door off a warming hut like Rambo on Colorado ski trips; swimming away from bruce-a-cuda snorkeling in the British Virgin Islands; barfing in a garden in the Cotswalds; the Off-family genealogy in Scotland.

Declaring himself only a “book cook,” he developed a well-deserved reputation for excellent cooking and delighted friends with his culinary triumphs. After trips to Scotland, he also developed a taste for fine Scotch whisky and always appreciated fine wines. Loving music, he spent much of his retirement years making innumerable CDs for family and friends with eclectic playlists.

In 1993, after a move to Johnson City, Tennessee, he became director of disability services for East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and later became head of career counseling there, a position that took him all over the country to meet (and be wined and dined) with employers such as Disney and Microsoft. At ETSU, he met and married Dr. Aimee Govett and became part of a beautiful family. He became “Papa Wayne” to the light of his older life, his grandson Hunter Barden and family. They had many adventures together including hiking, boating, and puppeteering. Ever the gardener, his green thumb led to a yard known and admired by his neighbors in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

Wayne, of the irresistible smile, great wit, and zest for life, all who have known you will miss you. Yours was a life well-lived. All who loved you will drink toasts to you (hopefully with an exceptionally fine Scotch). It would make you smile!

He is survived by his wife, Aimee Govett, stepson Joshuah Barden, daughter-in-law Kimberly Barden, and grandson, Hunter Barden; stepdaughter Jessi Barden; sister-in-law Charlotte Speer; nephew Jonathan Speer; and lifelong friend, Jean Haskell. He was predeceased by his parents, Harold and Bobbie Speer, brother Harold Speer, Jr., and sister, Shirley Speer, all who shared Wayne’s upbeat approach to life.

Private celebrations of Wayne’s life will be held in Jonesborough on July 22, and in Blacksburg, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Wayne’s name to Huschka House, a Transitional Living Program in Johnson City for young adults who have aged out of foster care. https://www.huschkahouse.org