Graveside services for Anita Joyce Sparks, 82, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020 at the Hale Family Cemetery near Dibble, Oklahoma.
Anita Joyce (Akins) Sparks was born December 29, 1937 in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, the daughter of Lee Arthur Akins and Ethel Lee (Cocheran) Akins. She passed away Sunday, May 24, 2020 in Arlington, Texas after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Anita attended Cement Schools and grew up in various communities around the Chickasha area.
On May 28, 1961, she married Donald Eugene Sparks in Chickasha, Oklahoma. After the marriage, they moved to Arapaho, Oklahoma and then to Mangum, Oklahoma, where they raised their family.
After her husband’s death, Anita moved to live with her daughter, Tina’s family in Waxahachie, Texas.
She had been a member of the Cement Church of Christ, Northside Church of Christ in Chickasha, Mangum Church of Christ and Brown Street Church of Christ in Waxahachie, Texas. Anita was an avid homemaker and baker. She loved crafts and taking photographs of her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by both parents, husband Donald Sparks, daughter Sandy Wages, four brothers and four sisters.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law Tina and Chris Autry of Waxahachie, Texas; six grandchildren Lauren Sparks of Gilbert, Arizona, Brittany Wages of Waxahachie, Michael and Daniel Wages of Lawton, and Chip and Charles Autry of Waxahachie; one great-grandson Carter Wages of Lawton; sisters Colene Talbert and Margie Akins of Chickasha; brother and sister-in-law Delbert and Shirley Akins of Chickasha; sister-in-law Orlin Akins of Chickasha; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and other extended family and friends.
Services are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.