Pastor James Spencer

Manhattan, Kansas – James E. Spencer, 71, died unexpectedly of cardiac arrest on February 15, 2022, in his residence. He was born on December 13, 1951, in Tucson, Arizona. The son of Arthur J. Spencer and LaVona I. Spencer. James was predeceased by his mother and father. He is survived by his sister, Beryl D. Jones of Wichita, and her four children; Izabella Jones of Atlanta, Georgia; Carrie Jones of Wichita, Kansas; Roxy Glass of Fort Worth, Texas; and Caleb Glass of New York, New York. He is also survived by his brother, Kevin Spencer, and his son, Lewis Gregorson Spencer, both of Seattle, Washington, as well as his sister, Kirsten Spencer Joyner of Tampa, Florida, and her three children: Kamran Joyer of Louisville, Kentucky; Hunter Joyer of Orlando, Florida; and Chancellor Joyer of Providence, Rhode Island. James attended Wichita East High School and was a disc jockey on the KMUW radio station in Wichita for several years before relocating to Manhattan in 1979. In 1981, he started Budget Car Care. James was a published poet as well as a playwright, but his passion was radio. He started as a radio show host in 1990 on KHCA-FM 95.3 every Sunday from 9 pm to 1 am. He hosted the show for 27 years. James was actively involved in his church and was often invited to share from the pulpit. He held a number of leadership roles in the community but by far his favorite role was that of Chairing the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Steering Committee, which, he chaired for nearly three decades. A memorial is currently being planned for James and the date will be announced in the near future.