Mary E. Sparks, 88, of Effingham, IL passed away at 2:08 am on June 9, 2016 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, IL
Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Monday June 13th 2016 at the Barkley Funeral Chapel in Toledo, IL. Visitation will be on Sunday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the funeral chapel. Burial will be in the Toledo Cemetery.
Mary was born in Spring Point Twp. on September 11, 1927 the daughter of Henry and Stella (Oakley) McClain. She married Ben Sparks in 1944 and he preceded her in 1968. Surviving is her son Terry (Trena) Sparks of Bennett, Colorado; daughter in law Nancy Sparks of Effingham; grandchildren Trisha (David) Katt of Effingham, Travis Sparks of Effingham and Brittany Sparks of Bennett Colorado; three great grandchildren Drake, Vincent and Sophia Katt; Brother John McClain of Shelbyville; Sisters Lela Kroenlein of Effingham, Dona Light of Mattoon and Marilyn Ray of Toledo. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Son Richard Sparks; Brothers Howard and Orville McClain; Sisters Carolyn Nelson, Reba Shaw and Josephine Boswell.
Mary was homemaker and worked 25 plus years at the Brown Shoe Company in both Mattoon and Charleston. Mary was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan, always tuning in either on TV or the radio. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Diabetes or to the American Heart Assoc. Online condolences may be expressed at www.barkleyfuneralchapels.com.