George Edward Sparks

George Edward Sparks, son of the late Earnest and Cora (Driskell) Sparks, was born April 5, 1953, in West Plains, Missouri, and passed away September 20, 2020, at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, Missouri. He was 67 years, 5 months, and 15 days of age.

George grew up in Dora, Missouri, and graduated from Dora High School in 1971. He married Debbie Bledsoe on December 19, 1971, at Willow Springs Church #2 in Vanzant, Missouri. George was captain of the basketball team and Debbie was a cheerleader. He kept asking Debbie if he could take her home and she always refused. A cake walk was held, where contestants bake a cake or pie and then have it auctioned off to the highest bidder. The winner of the bid had to eat the baked good with the person who made it. Well guess who paid thirty dollars, a lot of money in those days, to buy Debbie’s cake. Everyone knows George is a chocolate lover but he was more than happy to buy her white cake with white frosting. George was an awesome basketball player, known for his three pointers and half court shots. He played fast and played hard and lived that way too. Debbie cheered him on through the games and through their marriage but he occasionally had to be “benched”, as he was strong willed, had no fear, and liked to jump into anything full speed ahead.

After high school, George moved to Illinois and worked on a farm and for Caterpillar. But he soon grew homesick for family and the friends he grew up with and came back to Missouri to the hills and hollers. He worked at Conway Winters for a short time but realized he needed to work where he could be outside. He cut wood and worked at local saw mills and for Welton Gray Construction in Ava, driving dump trucks, oil tankers, and also worked at Ozark Asphalt in West Plains. He eventually owned his own logging operation and he and Debbie bought Richville Grocery Store in Dora, where he’d deliver grain and feed. After they sold both businesses, he started driving over-the-road tractor trailers for General Electric with his father-in-law. Then he hired on at Yellow Freight in Springfield, Missouri. He was a proud teamster and Union Steward. This job required him to be close enough to work to be called in with a two hour notice, so he moved his family to Mountain Grove in 1987. When the business experienced a lay-off, he started logging again. His boys helped Randy cut and skid logs and George would haul them. Yellow Freight called him back to work and so the boys kept logging and Bobby took over hauling the logs. George and Debbie would tease the boys, calling them Hoss and Little Joe from Bonanza because they had the same temperaments. George drove and delivered in the city until he retired. He was also a member of the Shriner’s and Masonic Lodge.

George loved old cars and pickups and enjoyed racing them. He also loved to fish and deer hunt and was an excellent shot. Every Sunday after church and lunch, he would go with his dad, brothers, and sons out to the woods to get a mess of squirrel. He was proud of all his children and grandchildren and lit up when he’d brag on each of them. He never missed their basketball, baseball, or swimming activities. He’d always tell them to do their best and then proceed to give them pointers as he was Coach Papa. George was waiting for his youngest hunting buddy, Sis, who sat on his lap watching westerns and nature shows after several episodes of cartoons, to get big enough to participate in lots of activities. He knew whatever she’d do, she’d be in pink and have a pink gun or a pink baseball glove.

George was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law, Billy Bledsoe, his step-grandchild, Josh, his brother-in-law, Larry VanPelt, his sister-in-law, Phillis Sparks, and a nephew, Brandon Bledsoe.

He is survived by his wife of their home, Debbie Sparks, two sons, Bobby and Randy Sparks, both of Mountain Grove, Missouri, his grandchildren, Dakota Sparks, Jesse Sparks, Donnie Luck, Hunter Sparks, Wyatt Sparks, and Nebraska Sparks, three brothers, Dwayne Sparks of Dora, Missouri, Sam Sparks and his wife, Eunice, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Don Sparks and his wife, Nyla, of Dora, Missouri, two sisters, Pauline VanPelt of Havana, Illinois, and Evelyn Wilson and her husband, Chris, of Vanzant, Missouri, several nieces, nephews, family, and friends, who will truly miss him.

George never met a stranger. Everywhere he’d do business, especially with Legacy Bank, Mountain Grove Lumber, and the special ladies at the county health department, he’d always say “Thank you for your support!” That was his way of showing how much he truly appreciated what they did and it was also a way to leave everyone smiling. He was truly blessed!