Michelle Mae “Mushy” Spears

Michelle Mae “Mushy” Spears, whose Ojibwe name is Onaagoshinoog Ikwe” which means “Evening Star Woman”, 44, of Red Lake, MN died Saturday, November 17, 2012 at Sanford Fargo Medical Center.

Funeral Services will be 1:00 pm Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at the St. Mary’s Mission Catholic Church in Red Lake with Father Jerry Rogers officiating. A wake will begin Monday at the Red Lake Center and will continue until the time of the services on Wednesday. Interment will be at the St. Mary’s Mission Catholic Church Cemetery in Red Lake under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

Michelle was born November 2, 1968 in Red Lake, Minnesota, the daughter of Mary Ellen Cook and Duane Fairbanks. She attended St. Mary’s Mission school and Red Lake High School, later receiving her diploma through the GED program. Michelle worked at the Thief River Falls Casino and currently employed as a security guard for the past 14 years at the Red Lake Middle School. Michelle enjoyed going to the casino and playing Keno and Bingo, chatting online with her Facebook peeps, online games, listening to classmate “Jackie Bird” songs, being with her husband Rodney Spears of 29 years, and being surrounded by her families. Mushy enjoyed life, and was very content and was so proud of her family.

She is survived by her loving husband – Rodney Spears, Sr., 2 sons- Rodney (Jenna), Jr. and Roderick Spears, her father – Duane (Trina) Fairbanks, her mother- Mary Ellen (Paul) Stillday, Grand-daughter- Jaydence Paige Roy, sisters- Kristi (Bern) Day, Colleen and Kayla Cook, Tasheena and Taneesha Fairbanks, all of Red Lake, special sister- Rae Spears, brothers- Brandon Howard, Bryan Sumner, Richard Auginash all of Red Lake, Stepbrothers- Michael, Joel and Paul Jones of Redby, stepsister- Darilyn Jones, Special nieces- Lexie Day & Nyah Neadeau and special son- Raymond Teller and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her Son, Brady Lee Spears, maternal grandparents- Teddy and Ida Cook, Paternal grandparents- Harry and Viola Fairbanks, mother-in-law Anna Spears, and recently special cousin – Loren Fairbanks, stepfather- Edward Gurneau, aunts- Amelia, Roberta and Violet and Uncles – Billy Cook and Gordon Fairbanks.

Active Casketbearers will be Gerry Beaulieu, Fabian and Brian Crowe, Craig and Clayton Cook, Andy Zawacki, Ron Perkins, Vincent Johns, Raymond Teller, Rae Spears, Devin Neadeau, Eddy Fairbanks, Wendell Cook, D.J. White, David Cook Jr., Josh Lussier, Kevin Needham, Bern Day, Bryan “Pun” Sumner, Donald Cook Jr., Mike Jones, Kevin Cook Jr., Duane Spears Sr., Chopper Fairbanks, Kyle Garrigan, Tony May, Sheldon Cook Jr., Leo & Billy Cook, Eddie Lone, Bob McNeal and Ron Thunder.

Honorary Casketbearers will be Janet Neadeau-Drouillard, Karen Graves, Vonnie, Nellie & Shayna Roberts, Shannon, Sharon, Lisa, Kim Cook, Nicole Spears, Jill, Janelle & Jo Cobenais, Wendi Fairbanks, Melanie Sumner, Sissy King, Trina Fairbanks, Theresa Anderson, Tammy Johnson, Crystal Schoenborn, Farrah Sumner-Nelson, RoseAnn Spears, Lea Lajuenesse, Kari Ann White, Renae Martin, Jenna Defoe, Karyn Jones, Eilleen Sayers, Karen Ramirez, Angie Beaulieu, Crystal Pelchat, Karen White, Kelsi Brown, Beth Roy, Stacy King, Jessica Brummond, Evon & Candy Spears, RL School Security Guards, Leslie Lussier, Melissa Crowe and Kari Cook.

Messages of condolence may be left at http://www.ceasefuneralhome.com.