Thomas Sparks

George Thomas Sparks died at the age of 81, Sunday afternoon November 6, 2011, in St Peters, Missouri. He and his wife, Joyce originally from Tennessee lived in Beaverton, Oregon, since 1977. Thomas was diagnosed with colon cancer in the summer of 2010 while visiting family in Missouri. October 2010, Thomas and Joyce returned to the Midwest to be closer to their beloved home in “Tennessee”. Born June 26, 1930 in Scotts Hill, Tennessee; father and mother Nathan William and Elizabeth (Robins) Sparks. Preceded in death by his four brothers and four sisters. Also preceded in death by a great granddaughter Vera Grace Tuttle. His children include: Dianna (Michael) Tuttle of Saint Peters, Missouri, Dwayne (Dianne) Sparks of Hohenwald, Tennessee, Darrel (Rachel) Sparks of Beaverton, Oregon, plus 14 grand children, 8 great grandchildren (plus one on the way) and a host of beloved nephews and nieces. As a young boy his family moved from Scotts Hill to Memphis. As a young teen age boy the Sparks family moved to Spring Hill, Henderson County. When Thomas and Joyce married in April 1956, he built their first home, and they moved to the Blue Goose community. Thomas worked at the “Candy factory” and later worked for Challengers Ladder Company in Jackson, Tennessee. Thomas also worked in the constructing of Interstate 40 as a truck driver. He learned plumbing while working for Brady Horn plumbing company. In the early 1960s he began working for Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). While working for TVA he built the family their second beautiful home in the Blue Goose community on five acres of land. The family’s home burned to the ground December 21, 1975 loosing everything, Thomas took leave of absence from TVA to rebuild the family home. He would never return to work for TVA. He became an excellent top rated finish commercial carpenter working for various companies one of which was JC Penney who asked him to become a supervisor in the opening of their new stores around the country. He did not accept the job, as it would require travel that would take him away from his family for extended periods of time. The move to Oregon! November 1977 Thomas and Joyce loaded their two young sons, and a few of their earthly possessions into their Pontiac Grand Le Mans station wagon and Ford Pick-up truck to drive across the country to Portland, Oregon. Their daughter was attending Conquerors Bible College in Portland. They arrived in Portland the first week of December. It wasn’t long Thomas found a place to live and a good job. But first things first, they located a home missions church in Beaverton, Oregon, where they could actively help the pastor in building a revival church. They would call New Life United Pentecostal Church, which later became Palace of Praise, their home church for the next 33 years. Thomas worked at the shipyards in Portland on large ships. He also worked for various construction companies and served as the maintenance supervisor for Tanasbrook Condominiums. Associate in Mission Missionaries to Holland! During the Oregon years, their three children married and started families. Dianna, their daughter, along with her husband became missionaries to Germany and then to Holland. Thomas and Joyce would make numerous extended trips to Europe to do missionary work in Holland and Germany. They served a total of approximately 4 years on short-term assignments as Missionaries beginning in 1987 with the most recent trip in 2008. Working in a variety of ministries and projects Thomas and Joyce were a great inspiration to the work in Western Europe. Meanwhile back in Oregon, the boys, Dwayne and Darrel, and their families were actively working to help the growing revival church in Beaverton. Thomas’ love for his pastor, and for his church was evident by his willingness to do what he could on the house of the Lord. While still living in Blue Goose he stopped work on his own home to work with Pastor Henry McCrury to tear down the old church in preparation for the reconstruction of the new Blue Goose Church building. He worked with his sons as they helped with the new church building at SW 198th Avenue and Farmington Road in Beaverton, Oregon. When the United Pentecostal Church of Tennessee laid out plans to build the new Tennessee Campground, in Dickson, Thomas Sparks was there to do what he could. He helped remodel the Mt Zion UPC of Hohenwald. Thomas is known for not being lazy and enjoying work. He always had “another little job just for you”. In his unique style and way he was a leader of men. A great man and a man of unwavering faith. A modern day Abraham: traveling more than, 2,300 miles from Blue Goose, Tennessee, to Portland, Oregon, “he went out not knowing whither he went”. He has left a legacy that will live longer than us all. Of his children and his grand children 10 are actively involved in the ministry, six are licensed preachers all of them are filled with the Holy Ghost and baptized in Jesus Name! What a Legacy this man has left us. November 2011, marks 34 years Thomas and his family moved from Blue Goose. It can truly be said, Thomas has gone home. Memorial Service will be Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Blue Goose United Pentecostal Church, 236 Poplar Springs Bargerton Rd, Lexington, Tennessee. Viewing will be Thursday evening 4:00 – 8:00 at the Blue Goose United Pentecostal Church. In lieu of flowers Thomas requested an offering be sent to The Pentecostals of Hohenwald, PO Box, 433, Hohenwald, TN 38462. Interment and Graveside Service to follow memorial service at Independence Cemetery

Thomas Sparks

June 26, 1930 - November 6, 2011