Friday services set for Lois Sparks, 92, devout Baptist, killed in tornado

(The following obituary is taken from the Mason-Woodard Mortuary website.)

Lois L. Sparks, age 92, Joplin, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday May 22, 2011, from injuries sustained in the Joplin tornado.


Lois was born on June 8, 1918 in Wichita, Ks., the daughter of Mable and Will Schnoor in Wichita, Ks. She married Wallace Sparks April 26, 1936 in Wichita, they were married for seventy-one years. He preceded her in death on February 14, 2007. She was member of the Eastern Star and a devout member of the Baptist Church, attending both Harmony Heights Baptist Church and later Eastview Baptist Church, working many years in childhood evangelism.

She is survived by her son, Ralph Sparks and wife Charlene, Joplin; four grandchildren, Jerry and Nanda Sparks, Joplin, Travis and Cassie Sparks, Joplin, Jodi and Kevin Austin, Springfield, Mo., and Ron Sparks, Tulsa, Okla.; and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Friday at Mason-Woodard Chapel. Rev. Tim Sumners will officiate. Burial will be Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The pallbearers will be Jerry Sparks, Travis Sparks, Pete Poore, Mark McDonald, Ron Sparks, and Kevin Austin.

The family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. Thursday at Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory. Memorial contributions may be given to the American Red Cross in care of the mortuary.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.