Irene Marie (Spanke) Treadway

IRENE MARIE (SPANKE) TREADWAY, 90, died Jan. 10, 2013, at Arkansas Hospice at St. Vincent Infirmary. Known to all as "Spunky," she was born June 4, 1922, in Hartman (Johnson County) to the late William and Marie Spanke, grew up in Clarksville and graduated from St. Scholastica Academy in Fort Smith. While in high school, she sang with two sisters in an Andrews Sisters-style trio that entertained at fairs and other events. After World War II, Irene met her future husband, OD Treadway, at a dance when his date failed to show up. They were married Jan. 27, 1951. Irene worked as secretary to attorneys at the Rose Law Firm, the president of the Wm. T. Stover Co., and the executive vice president of Sterling Stores Co. Inc. From 1966 to 1983 she worked for the Arkansas State Treasury, and upon retiring received a certificate from then-Gov. Bill Clinton recognizing her "as an outstanding Citizen of the State of Arkansas." A devout Catholic, Irene was a member of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. Irene is survived by her husband, OD Treadway; son and daughter-in-law Michael and Shelley Treadway of Baltimore; son and daughter-in-law Tyler Treadway and Sheri Walker of Stuart, Fla.; sisters Louise Kihm of Lake Wales, Fla., and Mary Donnell of Little Rock; grandson Peter Treadway of Baltimore; niece Susan Wise of Houston, Texas, and her children and grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Abbot Jerome Kodell of Subiaco Abbey will celebrate a funeral mass at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at Holy Souls. Arrangements are by Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home in Little Rock. Memorials may be made to Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock or to Subiaco Abbey. Please share your memories of "Spunky" at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.