Kenneth Spruell

Ken Spruell, known by some as Ken but by many as simply “Spruell,” was called to Heaven on September29, 2025. He was 78 years old. He died from complications of stroke after three years of valiant battle.

Spruell was born June 26, 1947, to Nathaniel Rufus and Pauline Spruell. He grew up in the former Old Overton mining village near Irondale, Alabama. After high school he served in Vietnam as a member of the Air Force, graduated from the University Montevallo, and then achieved success as an executive in the insurance industry. After serving in similar roles in California and Tennessee, Spruell became President of Molton, Allen & Williams, a large insurance broker based in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1999, pursuing his dream of living in the country and running a small-town insurance agency, Spruell promised to build Patti her dreamhouse if she would agree to move home to Dothan. Having convinced Patti to leave their beloved home in Birmingham, Spruell joined The Baxter Agency in Dothan, as Vice President and was instrumental in the eventual merger/acquisition of The Baxter Agency and Molton, Allen & Williams. Spruell and some of his colleagues later bought The Baxter Agency where Spruell served as President until health issues forced him to retire at 75. For many years, Spruell also served on the Board of Advisors for the Business School at the University Montevallo.

Spruell leaves behind his wife Patti Palmer Spruell, his brother Johnny, his son Jason Spruell and wife Joy, his children of the heart through marriage Glenn and Sean Sanders, his grandchildren Nathan, London, Lance and Laurence Spruell, his grandchildren by marriage Rabon, Ralls, and Jenni Pennington (and several great-grandchildren through them), his daughter-in-law, Ruth Spruell; his son-in-law through marriage, Mike Pennington; his nephew and lifelong friend, Danny Elkins, Danny’s wife Patsy, and many more cherished nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and cousins as well.  Spruell was preceded in Heaven by his parents; his siblings Hubert, Elizabeth, Leon, Neal, Clyde, Mary, and Sarah; his son, Michael Derek Spruell; and his daughter of the heart by marriage, Peyton Pennington.

Pallbearers will be Jason Spruell, Glenn Sanders, Paul David West, Ralls Pennington, Ray Wiehe, Bill Lovrich, Donnie Peters and Doug Kitchens.  Honorary pallbearers are Darrell Raulerson, Hovie Sawyers, and grandsons Lance, Laurance, Nathan and London Spruell.

Funeral services will be held at Sorrells Funeral Home in Slocomb on Thursday, October 2, 2025 with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. and services commencing at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Wendell Holmes and Rev. Tommy White officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Peyton’s Chapel, adjacent to Ken and Patti’s home which is located at 11780 Fortner Street, west of Dothan. A reception for friends and family of the Spruells will then be held from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Southerly House, 1609 County Road 74, Dothan, AL 36301. Flowers are welcome, but so are donations in Spruell’s memory to either Sardis Missionary Baptist Church in Dothan or Kitty Kottage in Dothan.