Spencer Dee Maughan

  Spencer Dee Maughan died in his sleep after a very brief illness the night of Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 in Weiser Memorial Hospital. 

 A long-time resident of Weiser, Idaho, he was a professional truck driver and Teamster who took driving seriously as a job to be well and safely done. A generous nature combined with a wry sense of humor and strong sense of loyalty made Dee a boon companion and for decades he was a regular at the Rolling Hills Golf Course and was, having become an Elk in 1965, one of the longest serving members of the Weiser Elks Lodge.

 A no-nonsense approach to work and friendship characterized Dee, who much enjoyed the company of children and dogs and friends and family spending time together.

 Born on June 4, 1936 in Logan, Utah to Spencer Darley Maughan and Millicent Gessel, Dee was the second of five children. 

 Moving with the family to Idaho as a small child, Dee grew up a farm kid and graduated Nampa High School in 1954 where he lettered on the boxing team as a state champion in 1953 and 1954. After a year of college at Utah State University, in 1956 Dee married Margarete Jantz and started a family (Larry 1957, Beckie 1958, Steven 1962). 

 Joining in the family enterprise of selling their Nampa farm and purchasing a working ranch in Jordan Valley, Ore., his father’s untimely death shortly after in 1958 shattered these plans and with minor children involved, Dee moved on to driving a milk route to support his growing family.

 Working now as a local and long-haul truck driver, often spending weeks on the road at a time, Dee came largely to run Vanways Moving & Storage and its warehouse in Caldwell, Idaho rising to manage the company. A change in ownership led him to new employment in 1977 with Champion Mobile homes, delivering manufactured homes for two decades all over the western states, retiring from final employer Chiquita in 2002.

 In 1978 Dee married Lee Hale with whom he built a family with daughters Deb, Becky, and Lori. 

 An avid golfer, for years Dee kept a daily 1:00 golf date with a dozen friends and more, and after years at age 75, to his quiet delight, he had two holes in one within a month on his home course. 

 Dee and Lee were known for full fun barbecues and gatherings for the Weiser Fiddle Fest, 4th of July, and other holiday events. A reader, Dee loved to discuss the latest novel or history he had completed, taking particular interest in character development and historical turning points tied together in stories. 

 Dee loved music and was particularly shaped by his love of Hank Williams and bluegrass, dabbling with banjo to connect with the music that meant so much to him. 

 For decades friends and family, particularly with kids and dogs, were especially welcomed to the home and back porch on State Street in Weiser. 

 In retirement Dee remained a well-known figure about town, spending much time at the golf links, as well as particularly enjoying Taco Tuesdays at the Elks, and generally spending time in the community with friends. 

 Dee always had a wry observation, or clever joke, or anecdote and his underlying wide reading always made him an interesting companion.

 He was one of the nicest men we’ve ever known and is already greatly missed.

 Dee was predeceased by his spouse Lee, grandson Joe Brannock, sisters Helen Maughan and Joann Brown, son-in-law Dale Eaton..

 He is survived by his sisters, Suzan (Alan) Payne and Tamera (Jess) Bice and brother-in-law Bud Brown; sons Larry and Steven (Jane) and daughter Beckie Eaton; stepdaughters Debra (Dave) Jenkins, Becky Hale, and Lori Hale; grandchildren Steven (Ambor) Dodson, Alicia (Steve) Dodson, Theo Maughan, Zoë (Brody) Maughan, Jesse Brannock, and Micki Hibbs; and great-grandchildren Cole Lukehart, Shelby Lukehart, Emmy Brannock, Kyra Gray, Bailee Hibbs, Logan Hibbs, and Arthur Steven Maughan-Jones, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

 Following Dee’s wishes, there will be no funeral, but a celebration of life with family and friends will be held on Oct. 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rolling Hills Golf Club in Weiser. Final arrangements have been provided by Thomason Funeral Home. 

 In lieu of flowers, friends may make a donation to Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.