Lee Roy Sparks

Lee Roy Sparks, 84, Nevada, passed away Sunday, April 18, 2010, at the Kansas City Hospice House, Kansas City, Mo. He was born Nov. 11, 1925, in Shawnee, Okla., to Roy Francis Sparks and Mary Verna Banion Sparks. He was married for 63 years to the love of his life, Eva Mahurin, and she survives of the home.

Mr. Sparks was born in Shawnee, Okla., and graduated from Elk City High School in Elk City, Kan. He served in the United States Navy during World War II from January 1944 to May 1946. He served on the U.S.S. Hornet in the Pacific Theatre of War and received 10 battle stars. Following his service, Lee came to Nevada, where his parents had moved to during the war and lived the remainder of his life here. He worked for the Equifax Corporation as a Field Representative for more than 30 years until his retirement. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Nevada, the American Legion, and was a lifetime member of the BPO Elks No. 564, a Past Exalted Ruler from 1958 to 1959, and served on many committees of the Nevada Lodge. Lee also formerly served as District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, Vice-President of the West Central District, was the administrative Secretary for the Missouri Elks Association, and was instrumental in helping to form 10 new lodges in the state of Missouri. Lee was currently serving as the State Historian for the Missouri Elks Association, a position he has held for more than 20 years.

In addition to his wife Eva, survivors include one son, Steven Lee Sparks, Tulsa, Okla.; two daughters, Sandra Lea Potts and her husband Randy, Raymore, Mo., and Margie Ann Smith and her husband Larry, Mountain Home, Ark.; five grandchildren, Tandria Price and her husband Travis, Kansas City, Mo., Bart Potts and his wife Danna, Louisville, Ky., Brandon Eador and Christy, Jonesville, Mich., Jason Sparks and his wife Amber, Columbia, Mo., and Joshua Smith, Ste. Genevieve, Mo.; and eight great-grandchildren, Weston Price, Lauren and Ashley Potts, Jameson and Eli Sparks, Madison and Melissa Eador, and Brooklyn Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Earl Sparks, and one sister, Betty Lowe.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Thursday, April 22, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with pastor David Rorabaugh officiating. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m., at National Cemetery, Fort Scott, with full military honors provided by the Fort Scott Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, and the family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday between 6 and 8 p.m., with Elk's memorial services beginning at 7 p.m., open to the public.

Memorial contributions are suggested to either the Nevada BPO Elks No. 564 or the Kansas City Hospice House in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.