OdessaBetty Lou Sparks died at the age of 81 on May 1, 2014 in Odessa, Texas.
She was born December 9, 1932 in Okemah, Okla., to Francisco Brownie Everett Brown and Lorene Estelle Taylor where she, her brother and parents lived until moving to Odessa, Texas in 1938. She was especially proud of her Cherokee Indian heritage from her mother and Scottish McDonald Clan heritage from her father.
While working a summer job at the Candy Kitchen during her senior year of high school, she met her husband to be, Lonnie. Lonnie was often teased by fellow officers of the Odessa Police Department about how often he ate lunch at that particular spot. Following her graduation from Odessa High School she and Lonnie were married on June 27, 1951 and had two sons, Ronnie and Richard. Betty and Lonnie were married for 59 years and spent many summer vacations traveling with the boys coast to coast fishing, sightseeing and exploring every place of interest big and small. She and Lonnie treasured their beloved dogs Feathers, Cricket and Pepper.
She was a wonderful cook sharing many recipes and southern homestyle cooking techniques with her granddaughters and friends and enjoyed playing cards Hearts and Bridge with the girls, gardening in the yard and could sit and talk about old times for hours and hours.
While she spent most of her early years at home doting on her boys, she worked a number of years as a florist and retired after several years working as a bookkeeper at Automotive and Industrial Products A.I.P. in Odessa.
She was a devoted and active member of the Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord in Odessa for 46 years. She was a member of various boards and councils, taught Womans Adult Sunday School and was instrumental in initiating and soliciting donations to the Mary Magdalene Fund at the church which assists outreach activities, provides financial support for the needy and facilitates educational opportunity for those working to complete their GED. Betty is especially thankful to her church family who visited and took care of her during her last years.
Betty is survived by her son and daughterinlaw Ron and Suzanne Sparks of Austin, son Richard Sparks of Gatesville, step daughter and husband Donnell and Gerald Zimpel, her brother and sisterinlaw Richard Dickie and Donna Brown four grandchildren Jennifer, Jamie, Rachael and Aimee, four great grandchildren Aubry, Chase, Sydney and Zach many nieces and nephews including her brother and sisterinlaws children Lisa, Bobby and Michael.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Brownie and Lorene, her husband Lonnie and her Aunt Hazel and Uncle Floyd.
Funeral Services for Betty will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at the Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord, 1603 N. Grandview in Odessa. Viewing will be conducted at the church prior to the service. She will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial, 6801 E. Business 20 in Odessa. Following the burial, the family requests you return to the church for lunch, visiting and sharing of good memories.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bettys name to the Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord or a charity of your choice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors