Eva Mae Sparks

Eva Mae Sparks passed away in her home in Keller, Texas, on March 25, 2013. She was born Sept. 12, 1927, in River Rouge, Mich., to Harold Mahurin and Jennie Combs Mahurin. She was the oldest of four children. The family moved to Nevada, Mo., in August 1942, where she graduated from Nevada High School in 1944. She was the business manager of the Crimson and Grey newspaper. She then graduated from beauty school and became a licensed beautician. She married the love of her Life, Lee Roy Sparks in 1946, who preceded her in death in 2010, after 64 years of marriage.

Eva worked for Perky's Beauty Shop, just off of the Nevada Square, for many years. She later worked for Dr. Delton Fast as his receptionist, enjoying this position until her retirement.

Eva and Lee were notably involved with the Nevada Elks Lodge. Eva was a member of the BPOE. Eva and Lee enjoyed traveling, attending many national and state Elks conventions along with taking a wide variety of family vacations. The couple was also markedly involved with the Vernon County Historical Society. Eva and Lee were proud to give a yearly scholarship to a Nevada High School senior.

For many years, Eva was highly involved with the Women's and Bantam's Bowling Leagues at Capri Bowl. She truly enjoyed working in their garden, growing lots of vegetables, and many beautiful flowers. She was a wonderful cook, and a talented seamstress.

Eva thoroughly enjoyed her collection of angels, adding to her collection every chance she had. She valued and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Eva was a long-time member of the First Christian Church of Nevada.

Eva is survived by her children, Steven and his wife, Tari, Keller, Texas, Sandra Potts and her husband, Randy, Raymore, Mo., and Margie Smith and her husband, Larry, Mountain Home, Ark.; grandchildren, Tandria Price, Kansas City, Mo., Barton Potts, Louisville, Ky., Brandon Eador, Jonesville, Mich., Joshua Smith, Osage Beach, Mo., and Jason Sparks, Colombia, Mo.; great-grandchildren, Weston Price, Lauren and Ashley Potts, Melissa and Madison Eador, Brooklyn and Lillian Smith, and Jameson and Eli Sparks. Eva is also survived by one brother, Harold Jr. (Buzz) Mahurin, Stockton, Mo.; and two sisters, Joyce Ketterman, Salina, Okla., and Dorothy Turner, Ft. Meyers, Fla.

A celebration of life service will be at 1 p.m., Friday, March 29, at Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada, with the Rev. David Rorabaugh officiating. Interment will follow in the National Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kan.

Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home and the family will receive friends at the funeral home 6-8 p.m., Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Nevada High School Scholarship Fund, or the American Heart Association in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada.