Frances Ione Sparks

Frances Ione (Guffey) Sparks passed away October 27, 2020. She was born September 6, 1927 to Floyd M. Guffey and Mary Evelyn (Ott) Guffey in Hamilton, Kansas.Frances began her life in Hamilton as the second child of five. She was a very loving and responsible child and sister. She loved to laugh, excelled at school, and went to business school to earn a bookkeeping/accounting degree. She used that degree before marriage and years later. Frances married James Clyde Sparks in 1948 in Hamilton KS. She followed Clyde with his career through many moves in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and back to Oklahoma. They had three children along the moves and her focus became being a loving wife and mother. She prided herself on making each new place feel like a forever home. She made many friends in each location and always established a Baptist Church Membership throughout her moves. Her last church was Springdale Baptist church in Oklahoma City. Her children fondly remember her cooking special meals, supporting all their endeavors, being fiercely protective and loving while having established rules of behavior. She welcomed the spouses of her children as one of her own. She also loved each grandchild and great-grandchild she was blessed to have. Frances used her bookkeeping skills with her family and various businesses that they owned. She moved to Oklahoma City in 1982 to become the Office Manager of Temple Johnson Flooring Co, a company her son had recently taken over. She worked with her son and later her son-in-law until she retired at 72.Frances was a skilled seamstress, knitter, and gardener. She made her daughter's clothing for many years, her wedding dress and many quilts for her children and grandchildren. Her knitting made many blankets, sweaters, mug rugs and even baby blankets for The Children's Hospital. Her gardening was learned from her Aunt, Uncle and Father. She always had beautiful flowers and bushes throughout the season. In her last years, Frances was blessed to have many special caretakers whom she would thank with her gracious smile and a wink.Frances was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 48 years, Clyde in 1996; two sisters, Florene Bliss and Phyllis Schreiner; and one brother, Samuel Guffey. She is survived by her three children: son, James C. Sparks, Jr. "Jim" and his wife Judy (Baack), son, Gerald L. Sparks "Jerry" and his wife KoKo (El Kouri), and daughter, Janis Jones and her husband Bryan; grandchildren inlcuded: Jim and Judy's son, Jason Sparks (wife Carly and their children, Jacob, Joseph and Jackson), Jim and Judy's daughter, Jaimie Sparks; Jerry and KoKo's children, Chance Sparks (wife Crystal and their children, Carter and Chloe), Matthew Sparks (wife Julie and their children, Kinsey and Joey). She is also survived by one brother, Robert Guffey and his wife, Nancy of Loveland, CO; sisters-in-law, Jean Sparks of Cleveland, OK and Martha Sparks of Kansas; as well as many nieces and nephews; including numerous extended family who were especially important to Frances and she cherished a close relationship with many of them.Graveside services to honor Frances will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 31, 2020 at Memorial Park Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved Clyde. Donations in lieu of flowers are requested to The Alzheimer's Association of Oklahoma City.