BETTY SPARKS

LOCKWOOD- A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Burton Leadership Center, 578 E. Hwy. T, Lamar, for Betty Kay Sparks, 66, Lockwood, who died Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, after a long battle with cancer. Erick Burton will officiate.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include a son, Steve Ross, Lockwood; a daughter, Charlene Peck and Matt Callahan, Springfield; a stepson, Kenneth Hahn and wife Neta, Lockwood; two stepdaughters, Paula Black, Bradenton, Fla. and Cathy Trent and husband Danny, Lockwood; her mother, Nora Elliott, Clinton; three brothers, Charley Elliott, Clinton, Norman Elliott, Holden and Eddie Elliott, Arkansas; one sister, Ellen Elliott and Leonard Baumgarden, Deepwater; 30 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren and one on the way.

She was preceded in death by her father, George Elliott; a brother, Chuck Elliott and an infant sister, Norene Elliott.

Mrs. Sparks was born Jan. 12, 1953, to George Elliott and Nora (LaDuke) Elliott in Clinton, where she grew up. She graduated as an LPN from Warrensburg Vo-Tech in 1991. On November 3, 1995, she married Richard Sparks in Lamar. She had worked at Golden Valley Hospital and Westwood Living Center, both in Clinton, as well as Truman Healthcare Center for many years and most recently Casey’s General Store in Lockwood.

She loved her animals, loved the great outdoors and catching fish. Spending time with her grand-babies, great-grand-babies and other family members is what gave her the greatest joy.