Obituaray

Willis 'Sparky' Sparks Jr.

1930-2004

Willis "Sparky" Sparks Jr., age 73, of Olive Hill, Ky., passed away Tuesday morning, May 11, 2004,
in Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky., following a short illness.

Mr. Sparks was born Aug. 15, 1930, in Carter County, Ky., and was a son of the late Willis Sparks Sr. and Grayce Elizabeth Brinegar Sparks.

Sparky owned and operated Sparks Sporting Goods in Olive Hill since 1960. This was more than a place of business and a means to support his family.
It was a legacy to his family and friends who stopped by each and every day just to say "hey!".
On any given morning, you could stop and find a host of many, many friends gathered around the wood stove or back in the "sun room"
catching up on the events of the day. He was of the Holiness faith and a Kentucky colonel.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Loretta Tackett Sparks; two brothers, Virgil Sparks
and James Sparks; and one sister, Edythe Robinson.

Sparky is survived by two sons, Timothy Martin Sparks and his wife, Linda, of Eagle River, Alaska and Chris Anthony Sparks
and his wife, Denise, of Lexington, Ky.; two daughters, Rhonda Lynn P'Simer and her husband, John, of Olive Hill
and Teresa Leigh "Teri" Carr and her husband, Dan, of Ashland; six grandchildren, John Charles P'Simer and his wife, Sheila,
Michael Wayne P'Simer and his wife, Shelly, Melissa Jo P'Simer and her friend, Johnathon Blevins, all of Olive Hill,
Travis Arnes Barker and his friend, Brittany Davis, and Tiffany Ann Barker, all of Ashland, and Trevor Austin Sparks of Lexington;
two stepgrandchildren, Dustin Carr and his wife, Anna, of Ashland and Jason Carr, also of Ashland;
six great-grandchildren, Charles Tanner P'Simer, Ashleigh Paige P'Simer, Kaitlyn Michelle P'Simer, Michael Hunter P'Simer and
John Karl Wyatt Blevins, all of Olive Hill, and Brooklynn Camilla Barker of Ashland; and one brother, Gary L. Sparks and his wife,
Linda, of Wilmington, Ohio. He will also leave behind special friends and family who will sadly miss him.

A private graveside service will be held for the immediate family where Sparky will be laid to rest next to his loving wife, Loretta.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2004, at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill for family
and friends with Eddie Porter and Phyllis James officiating.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Honorary pallbearers will be the store "loafers".

Submitted by: Linda Cheeks Pittano

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