Terry Dee Sparks

Our beloved Terry slipped away at sunrise the morning of December 15, 2011 in Lakeside, Navajo County, Arizona following a brief but brave battle with cancer. He was born on September 3, 1945 in Florence, Pinal County, Arizona to Jim and Ara Sparks. His youngest years were spent at Williams Air Force Base and in Chandler, Arizona. At the age of 12, the family moved to Whiteriver after his father took a job for the White Mountain Apache Tribe. Terry attended and graduated from Alchesay High School followed by college, at NAU in Flagstaff, and NMU in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Terry was drafted into the Army and fought for his country in the Vietnam War, returning home safely. His career was spent surveying, working for the Forest Service, driving truck for F.A.T.C.O, Reidhead Lumber, Diamond S and others. For a while, he sold real estate and ended his working years with Bilbie's Interiors in Show Low. Terry loved his family, friends, dogs, fishing, hunting and the outdoors. He was an honest man, quiet, intellectual and a gentleman. He will be forever missed by his family and friends. Terry was preceded in death by his father, Jim Sparks and mother, Ara Sparks Anderson. He is survived by his sister, Karen Bilbie; niece, Shawna Bolton and her daughter, Trista and grandson, Sawyer; nephew, Richard Bilbie and his wife Cari and their children, Kalyn and Clarissa. The burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Superior, Arizona Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 1:00PM followed by a dinner hosted by the family at Los Hermanos Restaurant. A memorial service will be held at the Elks Lodge, 805 E. Whipple, Show Low, Arizona at a date yet to be determined in January 2012. The family welcomes anyone who wishes to attended either, or both, services.