Beatrice "Betty" Sparks

Beatrice (Betty) Derks Sparks, 91, formerly of Kansas City North, passed away on October 15, 2011, in Long Beach, CA. She grew up in St. Joseph, MO; spent her adult life in Kansas City; and moved to Seal Beach, CA. ten years ago.

Mrs. Sparks was a founding member and an officer of the St. Pius X High School Booster Club. When St. Pius X opened in 1956, she volunteered to drive a school bus and was known for always getting the students to school on time even in the worse weather.

She was a member of St. Gabriel’s Parish and its Altar Society; president of the P.T.A. of St. Stanislaus School; a member of the Garden Club; the Daughters of the American Revolution; and the Ladies Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. She volunteered for numerous other community, charitable, and political organizations. She was retired from First Federal Savings and Loan.

Mrs. Sparks was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Lee Sparks; her mother, Catherine Downey Derks; and three brothers and six sisters. She is survived by two daughters, Judith Sparks Jordan and Victoria Lee Sparks, both of Long Beach, CA; two grandchildren, Katherine Beatrice Jordan and Daniel Sparks Jordan; two great-grandchildren, Sarah Sparks Jordan and Benjamin Daniel Jordan; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Gabriel’s parish on Thursday at 10:00AM followed by interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery in St. Joseph, MO. Arrangement are being made by McGilley Antioch Chapel.

The family suggests memorial gifts to Alpenglow Hospice Foundation, Inc. 3200 East 19th Street, Long Beach, CA 90755; or The American Cancer Society 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64105 (www.mcgilleyantiochchapel.com)