MARTHA LOU SPARKS

LAMAR- A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at Konantz Warden Funeral Home for Martha Lou Sparks, 86, Lamar, who died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024.

If you would like to make a memorial contribution in lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate assistance with final expenses.

Condolences may be left online at konantzwarden.com.

Survivors include her children, Richard Sparks, Lamar, Rhonda Trent and husband Calivan, Wichita Falls, Texas, Mark Sparks, Nevada, Mo., Lewis Sparks, Lamar, David Sparks and wife Cara, Greenfield, May Fleetwood and husband Jr, Aurora and Kay Sparks, Lamar; her sister, Alice Meek, Pittsburg, Kan.; grandsons, Chance Sparks, Wade Fleetwood, Jacob Fleetwood, Eric Sparks, Steven Head, Steven Moore, Bobby Moore, Kenny Hahn and Steven Ross; granddaughters, Allysa Harrenstein, Paige Sparks, Daniel Sparks, Destiny Sparks, Amanda Head, Nancy McGrew, Charlene, Cathy Trent and Paula Black and by many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a daughter, Mary Moore; a son, Pat Larkie and siblings, William Thompson, James Thompson and Dixie Sparks.

Mrs. Sparks was born in El Dorado Springs to Roy and Gladys (McCurdy) Thompson. She grew up in El Dorado Springs and married Stephen Sparks in Nevada, Mo. on May 9, 1953. She was an avid gardener and was proud of her vegetable garden and of her flower garden, especially her prize rose bush which still provides flowers every year.

She liked to watch baseball, but her favorite sport was bowling. She would take every opportunity she had to bowl and could be found alone and on teams bowling in Lamar, Lockwood, Stockton and Nevada, Mo. Above everything else, her greatest joy was her family. She doted on her grandchildren and nothing made her happier than having them around. Her children will tell you that she had a quick wit. You couldn’t be in a bad mood in a room with her for five minutes without her changing it.