Gary Ray Sparks, the son of Gary Arthur and Sharon Kay (Loeffler) Sparks, was born January 3, 1968, in Fairfax, Missouri.  Gary graduated from Tarkio High School in 1986.  He then attended Northwest Technical School, Maryville, Missouri, for two years receiving his diploma in Auto Mechanics.

In 1994, Gary was united in marriage to Tami Gorman and they became the parents of two daughters, Caci and Shaylee.  They later divorced.

Gary was employed by VanBuskirk construction and traveled throughout Iowa as a heavy equipment mechanic and for a short time he was employed by Mather Construction, Westboro, as a tile operator. Gary was later employed by St Joseph Correctional Facility, St Joseph, Missouri, as a guard, then a machine operator at Kawasaki, Maryville. Currently, Gary was employed in Auburn, Nebraska, for the Ariens Company.

Gary enjoyed playing poker at the casino, watching NASCAR, football and “The Deadliest Catch” on television. He was especially proud of Shaylee playing in the high school band and considered himself a “Band Dad”. Gary loved telling stories and making his daughters smile.  He worked hard to provide for them.  His sudden passing, at the age of 50, on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at his home in Tarkio, brings a tear to his family.

Gary is preceded in death by his mother, Sharon Sparks, and grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Sparks.  Survivors include daughters, Caci Renee’ Sparks, Lincoln, Nebraska, Shaylee Elizabeth Sparks, Tarkio; adopted daughters, Donna Marie, Asia Jean, Alexis and Zavien; father, Gary A. Sparks; brother, Wayne Sparks; both of Tarkio; sister, Melinda Curtis, Rock Port, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service:  12:00 P.M. (Noon), Thursday, July 19, 2018, Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.

Interment: Home Cemetery, Tarkio.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6:00-7:00 P.M. at Davis Funeral Home.

Memorials: Gary R. Sparks Memorial Fund.

Services: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.

www.minterfuneralchapels.com