Betty Joe Sparkman

Funeral services for Betty Joe Sparkman, 71, of Lufkin, will be held Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel in Lufkin with Reverend Mike Toland officiating. Graveside services will be held Friday, March 29, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. in the Smyrna Cemetery in Winnsboro, Texas.

Mrs. Sparkman was born February 28, 1942 in San Antonio, Texas to the late Catherine (Jessup) and Jake Smith. She died Sunday, March 24, 2013 at her residence.
Mrs. Sparkman was the co-owner of D.E. Sparkman Concrete and BJ Construction, and had lived in the Lufkin area all her life. She met and married the love of her life, D.E. Sparkman, and they have been married for 53 years. She loved life to the fullest, loved the ocean, loved fishing in Galveston, and loved to travel. She also loved bingo, as well as watching her grandsons play baseball. She had to be the first one in the parking lot. Mrs. Sparkman loved her entire family and everyone she met. She donated her time wherever it was needed.
While raising her four children, she was a Girl Scout troop leader for years and active in the Boy Scouts. She participated in Lufkin bowling leagues, women's volleyball, and as a member of Calvary Baptist's ladies softball team for years, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW, Lufkin Post #1836, and a member of Redland Baptist Church. Mrs. Sparkman was a 1960 graduate of Redland High School, where she never missed a day of school.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, D.E. Sparkman of Lufkin; her children and their spouses, Margarette Sparkman of Austin, Vernon Sparkman and Molly Langford; Darlyne and Troy Wise, and Jodi and Christy Sparkman, all of Lufkin; daughter-in-law, Belinda Renfro of Lufkin; grandchildren, Jason Sparkman and wife Jeanna of Wisconsin, Bobbye Peden and husband James, Danielle Sparkman, Jessica Tomez, all of Lufkin, Kendall Smith of New Braunfels, Haley Lackey of Austin and Megan and Zachary Wise of Lufkin, Stephanie Richardson of Wells, and six other grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren; brothers, Jay Dean Smith and Martin Harold Smith, both of Lufkin; aunt, Fay Rean Smith of Lufkin; uncle, Doyle Haley of Lufkin; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Billy May and Leon Haley; birth mother and stepfather, Catherine and Edward Massingill; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Nettie Lou and Ira Alton Sparkman; brother, Gary Smith, and favorite aunt, Christine Burke.

Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Chapter #84, 1800 Ford Chapel Rd., Lufkin, Texas 75901.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors