Mary Sparks, 91, of LaBelle, died Friday, March 2, 2012. Born August 27, 1920, to Mary Lewis and Nestor Glenn Walker in Brown Summit, North Carolina, she was a resident of the area for over sixty years.  Mary was a retired teacher and a published author and artist.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas Sparks, Sr. of LaBelle; daughter, Margaret Owens and her husband, Tom of McKinney; sons, Tommy Sparks, Jr. of LaBelle and Clement Sparks and his wife, Lynette of Plano; and grandchildren, Ashley Richards, Travis Sparks, Shelby Sparks, Joshua Sparks and Carrie Sparks.

Her funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 5, 2012, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland, with interment to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches.  A gathering of her family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Broussard’s. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 2099, Nederland, Texas 77627, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Salvation Army, 3145 25th Street, Port Arthur, Texas 77642.