James Maurice Sparks Jr.

JAMES MAURICE SPARKS JR. Memorial services for longtime Dolores resident James Maurice Sparks Jr. will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 at Joe Rowell Park in Dolores with a lunch to follow. James was born February 8, 1935 in San Diego, Calif. the son of James Maurice Sparks Sr. and Gertrude Sparks. He passed away the night of May 4, 2009 at his home in Dolores at the age of 74. James had two sisters, Lou Emma Howard and Patricia Larson, and one brother, William Trammel. He attended San Diego High School and graduated in 1953, shortly thereafter James enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in the Korean War. He also loved baseball and played for the Air Force. James had a passion for outfitting and fishing in the Colorado mountains. James is survived by his wife, Donna Mae Sparks; his son, James M. Sparks III and wife, Nancy, his daughter, Brittany Sparks; and his grandchildren, Sam Sparks, William Sparks, and Lenore Sparks. James is also survived by his step-children, Weston Johnson and wife, Sherry, Larry Johnson and wife, Barbara, Julie Knudsvig and husband, Robert, and Rhonda Thompson; 17 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. James was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings; his ex-wife, Jo; and his daughter, Roxanne (Sparks) Choate.