SIKESTON -- Edith E. Sparks, 75, of Sikeston died Friday, March 8, 1996, at her home.
She was born Sept. 19, 1920, at Lakeview, Ill., to John Wesley Crain and Flora Dean Kappler Crain. On Aug 23, 1943, at New Madrid, she married Samuel H. "Slim" Sparks. He died Nov. 17, 1986.
She lived in Sikeston and Morehouse most of her life and was a member of the First Assembly of God in Sikeston. She was a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II.
She was a retired shoe stamper and union steward for International Shoe Co.
Survivors are her mother, Flora Dean Crain of Sikeston; three sons, Tommy Williams of Onalaska, Texas, Dennis W. Sparks of Cape Girardeau and Charles David Sparks of Waldorf, Md.; three daughters, Mary Margaret Schwartz of Chesterfield, Laura Lee Idsinga of Silverdale, Wash., and Norva Jean Wyles of Indianhead Park, Ill.; five brothers, Dan Crain of Carbondale, Ill., Arnold Crain of Danville, Ill., Jack Crain and Ronald Crain, both of Fort Pierce, Fla., and Bert Crain of Melbourne, Fla.; three sisters, Margaret Ray of Bonifay, Fla., Dorothy Cardinale of St. Charles and Hazel Dalton of Wildwood; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A brother preceded her in death.
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Nunley Funeral Home in Sikeston. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, with the Rev. Jerry Harris officiating. Burial will follow in Taylor Cemetery near Essex.
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