Naomi Nadine Sparks

N. Nadine Sparks
Naomi Nadine Sparks, 87, of Unionville, MO, passed away at the Putnam County Memorial Hospital on Sunday, July 15, 2012.
The daughter of Aaron M. Wiles and Frona Visa Ellen Embree, Nadine was born on November 13, 1924 in Elm Township, Putnam County, Missouri. On January 3, 1942 she was united in marriage to Melvin Sparks in Unionville, Missouri. Melvin preceded her in death on August 17, 1999. Naomi is survived by two daughters and one son, Beverly Yarbrough and husband Larry of Atlanta, Kansas, Richard Sparks and wife Diana of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Jill Blanchard and husband Jim of Lucerne, Missouri; sister-in-law Rosemary Sparks of Clinton, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Craig Yarbrough of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Heath Yarbrough and wife Allison of Choctaw, Oklahoma, Carissa Honkomp and husband Doug of Arkansas City, Kansas, Aaron Sparks and wife Jennifer of Ilkeston, England, Donica Watson of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Taren Lewis and husband David Lee of Lucerne, Missouri and Kyle Blanchard of Lucerne, Missouri; eleven great-grandchildren, Heather Adams and husband Derrick of Norman, Oklahoma, Vivian Yarbrough of Choctaw, Oklahoma, Sidney, Seth, and Erin Yarbrough of Jenks, Oklahoma, Kyle and Ella Honkomp of Arkansas City, Kansas, Josiah Sparks of Ilkeston, England, Landon and Mackenzie Watson of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Addison Taylor Lewis of Lucerne, Missouri; two nephews and four nieces. Nadine was looking forward to her twelfth great-grandchild in December 2012. Nadine was preceded in death by her husband Melvin, her parents, one brother, Kenneth Wiles and one sister, Geneva Schuster; one granddaughter, Jessica Taylor Blanchard; and three brothers-in-law, John Schuster, Merrill Sparks, and John Sparks.
Nadine was born in Putnam County and lived in Mt. Hope, Macon, Spickard and Jamesport, Missouri as a child. She returned to Martinstown to operate the family farm with Melvin and his grandparents from 1942 to 1977. Nadine was county chairwoman for the American Cancer Society from late 1960’s to mid 1980’s. She also clerked for Arnaman Auction Service from the early 1970’s to the mid 1990’s. Nadine sold lots at Lake Thunderhead, receiving the Salesman of the Month in September 1982, sold cemetery plots in Chillicothe and represented Avon for 32 years from 1980 until her death, placing her last order the last week before her death. Nadine was an active member of the Martinstown and Parkview Churches of Christ.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 1:30 pm at the Playle & Jones Family Funeral Home with Mr. Darl Davis officiating. Congregational songs will be “It IS Well With my Soul” and “Whispering Hope.” Pallbearers are Craig Yarbrough, Heath Yarbrough, Jim Schuster, Darl Davis, David Lee Lewis, and Mike Blanchard. Honorary pallbearers are Adrian Lewis, Ronny Roof, Gene Crawford, Carl Gower, Chris Arnaman, Aaron Sparks, and Doug Honkomp. Burial will be in the Unionville cemetery. Visitation will be after 1 P.M. on Tuesday, July 18 with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7 P.M.
Memorial contributions can be made to Parkview Church of Christ and can be left at or mailed to the Playle & Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 s. 27th, Unionville, Missouri 63565.