Clyde Harold Sparks Sr.

Clyde Harold Sparks, Sr. 89, of Pleasant Hill passed away Saturday, December 26, 2020 after a short illness. He is survived by four sons: Terry Odell Sparks and wife Susan of Nacogdoches, Texas; Michael Shane Sparks and wife Elizabeth of Tampa, Florida; Loy Dean Sparks and wife Chantalom of Kapolei, Hawaii; and Clyde Harold Sparks, Jr. and wife Lea Ann of Nacogdoches, Texas. He was blessed with 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren which he loved very much! His surviving brothers were Dale Sparks and wife Ann of Palestine, Texas; Don Sparks of Hempstead, Texas; John "Chick" Sparks and wife Dorothy of Appleby, Texas; sister, Carrie Havard of Indianapolis, Indiana; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Sadie Greening Sparks; parents, John Thomas "Tommy" Sparks and Allie Bertie Polk Sparks; and brothers, Thomas Eugene Sparks, Albert Jerry Sparks, and William Shirrell Sparks.

Dad was born August 15, 1931 on his Uncle Allen's place in the Cedar Bluff community in Nacogdoches County. The nearest big town was Pisgah, which is about six miles from the railroad at Appleby as the crow flies. It was in this peaceful rural setting that dad spent his early years helping his dad and brothers grow cotton and produce crops of tomatoes, cucumbers, and other vegetables for delivery to the markets in Garrison, Timpson, and other area towns; wherever they could get the best price.

Dad attended school at Appleby, Cedar Bluff, and Garrison. He shared many stories of walking several miles to and from Cedar Bluff school each day; more than once having to spend the night at the Roy Rambin home because of the Perry Branch being flooded. He wasn't too fond of the geese roaming the Rambin pasture. Along the way, dad learned a work ethic that stuck with him his entire life. He taught this to his four sons by example, not just talk.

There was another family nearby that counted among its members a pretty young lady named Sadie. Since she lived close by it wasn't long before he was smitten. They married April 29, 1955 at Bethel in Appleby, not long after dad's return home from a 2 year & 6 month stint in the Navy. To this union were born the aforementioned four boys: Terry in 1956, Shane in 1957, Loy in 1959, and Clyde Jr. in 1964.

After his tour in the Navy, dad worked briefly for Southern Pacific Railroad before beginning a career with the U.S. Postal Service. He was very popular with his coworkers due to his pleasant, low-key personality. To know him was to like him. He even attained the title "Colonel" by his workmates.

Dad had to retire in 1999 after 42 years with the Post Office due to heart bypass surgery. Retirement provided dad with the opportunity to spend more time with his grandchildren, whom he loved dearly, do a little gardening, and help mom with her genealogy research. He would chauffeur her anywhere she wanted to go. Dad was an excellent cook also. Many guests remember his Texas pinto beans, chicken and dumplings, and gumbo.

Heavy snow is a rare event in East Texas. In fact, I only remember two or three times in my life where we had snow over a couple inches deep. One of those times was the Winter of 1968. I was a sixth grade student at TJR Junior High School in Nacogdoches. When I awoke one morning I happened to look out my window and there was a thick blanket of snow covering everything in view. Bremond Street followed the compass due north in front of my house. The snow must have been 7-8 inches deep and unmolested with one exception: there was a set of footprints that began at our front porch and tracked unerringly along Bremond. No auto, horse drawn cart, or animal had disturbed the glistening white blanket. I knew who had made those footprints, our dad walking to work at the Post Office. I can still see him in the distance, slowly but steadily moving out of sight, just as he did early in the morning of December 26 this year. Yes, Dad is gone from our sight now, but just as he did that day so long ago, he'll come back home one day for us to hold, hug, and love again. He believed that, and I do too. We'll miss him until then!

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelations 21:3-4

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at Sunset Memorial Park in Nacogdoches.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.