Hester Sparks, 83, of the Chambers Community, died Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, in Shawnee.
The family will receive visitors from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Bishop Funeral Service.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Frink Baptist Church with the Rev. James Collins officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Bishop Funeral Service of McAlester.
Born March 14, 1926, in Richville, she was the daughter of Harry Walter and Amie Elizabeth Freeman Raleigh. She moved with her family to Savanna and graduated from Savanna High School.
While in high school, she was a nationwide award winner in 4-H in horticulture.
She married Roy Ramon Sparks on July 5, 1951, in Holdenville, and they moved to their home on Chambers Drive and have lived there since.
She was employed as a key punch operator at the United States Naval Ammunition Depot until her retirement in 1967. During that time she was also a homemaker and worked on the ranch.
She was a longtime member of the Frink Baptist Church, working in community outreach.
She was a member of the Womens Home Demonstration Club and was in charge of the Chambers Road voting precinct for many years.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Royce and Sharleen Sparks, of McAlester; a sister and brother-in-law, Carrie and Paul Adams, of McAlester; a brother and sister-in-law, Chester and Evelyn Raleigh, El Paso, Texas; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Raleigh, of Savanna.
Also, nieces, Judy Sparks, of El Reno, Charlene Thomas, of Savanna, Charlotte Miller and husband, Sherman, of Savanna, Glenda Sanders, of Savanna, Sylvia Sparks, of El Reno, and Carolyn Ann Odell and husband, Gayland, Yantis, Texas, and nephews, Coy Glenn Sparks and wife, Cindy, of Tuttle, Cody Raleigh, of Savanna, Shane Raleigh and wife, Bunny, of Savanna, Charles Kimball, of Mid West City, Richard Raleigh and wife, Jean Ann, Denton, Texas, and Kenneth Raleigh and wife, Linda, of Broken Arrow.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Ami Raleigh; her husband, Roy Sparks, on Sept. 16, 2003; three brothers, Lester “Red” Raleigh, Pat Raleigh and Gene Raleigh, and a sister, Merelene Kimball.
Pallbearers will be Cody Raleigh, Shane Raleigh, Coy Glenn Sparks, Toby Westbrook, Lynn Barlow, Charles Kimball , Kenneth Raleigh, Sherman Miller and Morgan B. Emerson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Brown, James Harvey, James Riley, Randy Dobbs, Doc Coker, Richard Nobles, Larry Turney, Tommy Turney, Howard Harris, Sig Borrenkott, Morgan Q. Emerson, Lucille Croniger, David Stanfield, Charles Robert Lee and Paul Johnson.
Memorials may be made to Frink Baptist Church, Rt. 3, Box 250, McAlester, Okla., 74501.
