Born May 15, 1951 in Mitchell County, he was a son of the late Dewey Sparks, Jr. and Thelma Rice Sparks.  He was a truck driver for over 40 years at Cherokee Auto Auction and was a member of Double Shoals Baptist Church.  Mr. Sparks loved anything with wheels and loved to cook and bake.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Martha Dean Sparks; son, Tommy Ray Sparks of Shelby; two daughters, Crystal Gail Hopper of Spring Hope and Kristin Sparks Lundy of Lawndale; five grandchildren, Dustin Lane Sparks, Haley Nicole Wood, Thomas Perry Sparks, Breanna  Michelle Lundy and Victoria Raylynn Sparks; one brother, Tim Sparks and wife, Connie of Lawndale, and many nieces & nephews.

Visitation will be 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Friday at Stamey Funeral Home, Fallston

Funeral Service will be 1:00 PM, Saturday at Double Shoals Baptist Church, Shelby.  The body will lie in state thirty minutes before the service.

Officiating: Dr. Brian Johnson

Burial: Rose Hill Memorial Park, Fallston

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Stamey Funeral Home, PO Box 639, Fallston, NC 28042 to help with funeral expenses.

A guest register is available at

www.stameyfuneralhome.com

Stamey Funeral Home is serving the Sparks family.