Gary A. Sparks, the son of Raymond and Mary E. (Gregory) Sparks, was born January 29, 1947, in Maryville, Missouri. He attended Maryville High School, graduating in 1965.

On July 8, 1967, Gary was united in marriage to Sharon Kay Loeffler at the Baptist Church in Maryville. They made their home in Tarkio, Missouri, and became the parents of three children, Gary R., Wayne, and Melinda. Sharon passed away July 27, 2006.

Gary was employed as a welder at numerous businesses including: Grebe’s Machine Shop in Tarkio, Farm Master Gates in Shenandoah, Iowa, Behlen Manufacturing in Columbus, Nebraska, and for a short time on the railroad. In 1986 Gary and Sharon owned and operated Sparks Hunting and Fishing out of their home in Tarkio, where they later relocated the business to a garage behind their home. In 2006, Gary retired from Auburn Consolidated Industries, Auburn, Nebraska.

Gary was a member of the National Rifle Association. He was a hard worker, who enjoyed hunting and working on cars, especially working with his son, Gary Ray, on his stock car. Gary passed away Friday, November 30, 2018, at Tarkio Rehabilitation and Health Care, at the age of 71.

In addition to his parents and wife, Gary was preceded in death by son, Gary Ray Sparks, sister, Gwynetha (Granny) Christianson, and infant brother, Jimmy Sparks. Survivors include son, Wayne Sparks, Tarkio; daughter, Melinda Curtis, Rock Port, Missouri; grandchildren, Billy Daugherty and wife, Kelly, Fairfax, Missouri, Robert Curtis, Rock Port, Caci Sparks, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Shaylee Sparks, Tarkio; two great-grandchildren, Paisleigh Daugherty and Emma Barnett; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held Tuesday, December 4, 2018, at Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio, conducted by Rev. Glenn Scott. Interment was at Home Cemetery, Tarkio. Memorials may be directed to Home Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left at www.minterfuneralchapels.com. Services were under the direction of Davis Funeral  Home, Tarkio.