Mary Sparkman

ST. LOUIS -- Mary Ann Benham Sparkman, 91, of St. Louis and a native of Cape Girardeau, died peacefully at her daughter's home in Yorkville, Illinois, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. Mary joyfully spent her last 15 years at Covenant Place, an independent living community for seniors in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Mary was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, when she resided in Cape, but also attended Cape County Cowboy Church. When she relocated to St. Louis, she attended Grace Church in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

Mary graduated Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1947 and attended Southeast Missouri State University. She also took a course at Arkansas State Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas).

Mary held several different jobs and positions throughout her lifetime. She started out as an usher at the Broadway Theater, but quickly worked her way up into the office and spent the following years working in different office/secretarial positions including the phone company, H&R Block, Paul Hendrix CPA and Charles Drury Sr. and company in Cape. She also prepared many personal income tax returns. She was co-owner of the Colonial Restaurant for many years. Mary successfully passed her broker real estate exam in 1979 and started her career in real estate at Town and Country Realty in Cape, retiring from there.

Surviving is her daughter, Teresa (Manuel) Reyna of Yorkville, and children, Tatum Dalton and her husband Connor Hagen of Andover, Minnesota, and Jesse Dalton of Yorkville; granddaughter, Kaci Jo Sparkman, and children Colter James Eck and Rees Flannery of Gordonville; grandson, Garrett Sparkman, and children Ella and Vera of Gordonville; brother-in-law, Dr. Thomas (Carol) Sparkman of Cape; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Jones of Jackson, whose husband, Rex Jones, is deceased; nephew, Randall (Laura) Sparkman, and children Sumner and Blake of Cape; other nieces, nephews and cousins.

Special thanks to her close friends of 15 years, Tammi and Steve; Raya V., her home health aide of several years; and Season's Hospice of Burr Ridge, Illinois, for providing Mary and the family support the last six weeks.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Hobert Benham and Gladys Skyles Sanders; stepfather, Al Sanders; sons, Stephen, John and Greg Sparkman; nephew, Kendall Sparkman; ex-husband, Glenn Sparkman; and other cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Mary was a member of the American Business Women's Association (ABWA) and Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC). She loved her children and grandchildren and always enjoyed their many activities growing up. She loved spending time in the sun, going on day trips with NORC, playing Mexican dominoes and Rummikub.

She had many close friends over the years. Mary always had a beautiful smile on her face regardless if she was suffering from a health issue at the time. Despite her health challenges, she remained positive and strong and adapted to those changes. She was so vibrant. Her appearance was very important. She was always neatly dressed from head to toe. She had a kind and gentle heart; you seldom saw her upset. She enjoyed good-tasting food, and many family celebrations centered around food. Mary was living independently and still driving a car until December 2020. She touched the lives of most people she met and will be deeply missed.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Funeral Home, 1001 N. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, with private burial following at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

Expression of sympathy may be made to Grace Church, 2695 Creve Coeur Mill Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 400 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.