B.J. "Jack" Sparks

JOSHUA -- B.J. "Jack" Sparks, 78, of Joshua, a retired general electrician and railroad electrician, died Friday, July 25, 2008, in Fort Worth. Funeral: 10 a.m. Monday in Mountain Valley Funeral Home Chapel. Interment: Union Hill Cemetery in Joshua. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Mountain Valley Funeral Home. Billy Jack Sparks was born Sept. 1, 1929, in McLean to John Pruitt and Wilma Elizabeth Love Sparks. He married Janie Miller on Aug. 21, 1948, in Cleburne. He enjoyed fishing, camping and the outdoors. He was a former two-term mayor of Joshua, coached Little League baseball, and was a 50-year Mason. He loved his family and friends dearly, the coffee shop, visiting with neighbors and friends, and was loved by all. He was a member of Union Hill United Presbyterian Church in Joshua. Mr. Sparks was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, James Dale and Charlie Frank Sparks. Survivors: Wife of 59 years, Janie Sparks of Joshua; sons, Levi Jackson Sparks and wife, Linda of Mesquite, Dennis Lee Sparks and wife, Brenda of Rainbow; daughter, Marilyn Beth Sparks of Joshua; sister, Bonnie Whitworth of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Randall McGuire, Sherry Carpenter, Kristina Sparks, Renee' Burden, Billy Raymond Sparks, Amy Lynn Ice; 12 great-grandchildren.