Cleotha Speed, Jr

Cleotha Speed, Jr, 71, passed away on January 26, 2021 at St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.  He was born on May 3, 1949 in Helena Arkansas to Cleotha Speed, Sr. and Verna Mae Speed.  He grew up in Helena, Arkansas, and graduated from Eliza Miller High School in West Helena, Arkansas.

He began working for AMF Bowl from 1969-1972, then Missouri Pacific Railroad from 1973-1977 as a Porter and Mechanic. Throughout his entire career, he worked for 37 years and retired in 2014.  His hobbies included working on cars, and bowling.

He married Laverne Speed on September 22, 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri.  They were happily married for 48 years.

Cleotha is preceded in death by his parents: Cleotha Speed, Sr. and Verna Mae Speed; and his siblings, Leevon Speed, Melvin Speed, and Kathleen Drayton.

He leaves to cherish his memories his wife: LaVerne Speed; his children, Jereme Speed (Julie), Marcjuan Speed (Erica), and Cierre Speed; his siblings, Maxcine Young (Percy), Augusta Speed (Irma) Erma Conner, Stanley Speed (Amatullah), Lloyd Speed (Lillion), Della Jones (William), Betty Carter (Rev. Leroy Carter, II), Darvy Speed (Connie); his grandchildren: Ryauna, Tytiana, Dazhane, Mijai, JaNiya, Ahbreon, Nevaeh, Noa, Natalya, Anthony, Ali, J’son; his great-grandchildren: Messiah and Malaki, and a host of other relatives and friends.

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