Stanley Jay Spencer

Stanley Jay Spencer, age 71, passed away May 22, 2025, in Chester, Utah during a peaceful afternoon nap, and after a long life of hard work and adventure. Stan was born November 27, 1953 in Delta, Utah, the third child and oldest son of Douglas Jay and Dorthella Glover Spencer.

In 2021, he married Nanci Baldwin, and they spent 18 happy months together before her tragic passing in October 2022. The crowning jewels of his life, his children, came from his first wife of 19 years, Sandra Lee Owens, whom he married on January 25, 1975. They were blessed with sons, Douglas James and Tad Andrew, and his favorite daughter ever, Jeri Lynn. He loved taking his kids on all his hunting, fishing, and mechanic adventures.

From the ages of 12 through 18, Stan worked for his father’s company, DJS Trucking & Mining. He hauled ore, drilled and blasted pits, and ran crushers and other heavy equipment to process ore products for Geneva Steel. Meanwhile, his passion for wrestling carried him to win Regionals and place 3rd in State soon before graduating with honors from Delta High School in 1972. Two years later, he graduated from Denver Auto & Diesel College, the top student of his class.

Stan developed a reputation as the sharpest and best diesel mechanic around. The pinnacle of his professional career was owning and operating Stan’s Diesel & Equipment through the years. He was also proud to bring Belarus Tractors to Utah and spent two years second in sales nationwide. Up until his death, he continued as the premier Belarus Mechanic in the nation and could tell you the story of every Belarus tractor in the surrounding states. His last job before retiring in 2019 was with Bodie Machinery in Ghana. There, he spent ten years designing and building custom mining equipment and successfully orchestrating gold mining operations.

His other lifetime passions were fishing and hunting with his family. He loved to spend weeks hunting in the mountains, especially with his kids and grandkids. Stan was always thrilled to have children tagging along, encouraging his granddaughters as much as his grandsons.

He was a fantastic storyteller and remembered every detail of his adventures. Many of his stories involved bad luck and the giant trophy buck/bull/fish that got away. His capstone hunt was in October 2023: he finally got his 30-inch buck in an epic limited-entry hunt alongside his granddaughter, Lindsay, who shot her own trophy buck. Stan’s final hunt was spent with his preferred daughter and sixth granddaughter, driving around Skyline in his jeep, watching for elk, and telling stories.

Underneath his gruff exterior was a man who truly loved helping people, whatever the personal sacrifice. He spent a lifetime going out of his way to visit with and take care of others. He loved his friends and remembered every single one of them.

He was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a gift for giving powerful priesthood blessings. He loved the members of the Wales Ward he was a part of for his thirty years in Chester.

Stan was always showered off and on time for all of his children’s (and eventually grandchildren’s) events. He showed up for them, no matter how much work he had. Nothing made him happier than his children, their excellent spouses, and his grandchildren, and they all loved him. His stories, his wisdom, and he himself will be sorely, vitally missed.

Stan was preceded in death by his parents: Doug and Dot; his oldest sister: Claire; his beloved dogs and cats (he always had some), his wife: Nanci; as well as numerous extended family and friends. He is survived by his children: Doug (Melissa), Tad (Jessica), and JeriLynn (Jay) Fisher; fourteen grandchildren; his precious sister: Shirley; and little brothers: Brent (Yvonne) and Ron (Jill).

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 31, 11:00AM, at the Wales LDS Chapel, 92 South 200 West. Viewings at the Wales Church on Friday evening, 6:00-8:30PM, and Saturday, 9:00-10:40AM, prior to the service. Those unable to attend are invited to view the recorded video of the service. Link will be posted with his obituary at www.nicklemortuary.com on Saturday following the conclusion of the service. Burial will follow at the Hinckley Utah Cemetery at 4:00 PM.