Edna L. Sparks was born April 23, 1931 to Willie Roy and Lillie Mae (McCabe) Hancock south of the Hinton area on Sugar Creek. At the time of her birth, Sugar Creek was up. Bill crossed the creek to get Lessie Zinger (midwife) to help with the birth. Lessie made a call to Dr. Hobbs before they left. Lessie hiked up her skirts and crossed the creek with Bill. Dr. Hobbs arrived just after Edna was born. He had driven out to the Hancock place but had to park on the other side of the creek and walk across himself.  Edna attended Moss Grove, Burcham and Walnut Center Schools entering Hinton High school in 9th grade at the young age of 12. In 1936, Kenneth was going to school at Moss Grove. Edna was five years old and not yet in school. She was always running off following Kenneth to school with Old Sport, her brown-speckled three-legged dog, looking down the road where she’d gone —this way, Lillie always knew where to look! The teacher would send Edna back home with Kenneth or Zelta Mae. Finally, the teacher gave up and gave Edna a book and a desk. That is how Edna started primary school at age five. She became a baptized believer at age 12 while attending First Baptist Church, Hinton. She graduated from Hinton High School in 1947 and graduated from Southwestern State College in Weatherford at the age of 19 having obtained a teaching job before she graduated from college. While working at Hobbs Store one day in 1946, a handsome young man named Bill Sparks caught the eye of Edna. He would sit at the fountain and Edna would look at him in the mirror as she prepared sodas and made change. They began dating and soon made plans to be married in November 1948. Bill did have to promise Edna’s parents that he would continue to put her through college.  She was united in marriage to William (Bill) Howard Sparks on November 6, 1948, at Edna’s parents’ home in Hinton.  She and Bill lived in Hydro, and she started teaching school in Lookeba. She rented a room from Sam Noble’s wife during the week and would go back home to Hydro on the weekends. In 1952, Bill enlisted in the Air Force and after basic training, the couple moved to Navata, California where they lived for two years during the Korean Conflict. Upon returning to Hydro, Edna later taught English at Binger Schools and taught a short period of time at Hinton. She and Bill moved to Hinton where she worked as the Administrator of the Hinton Hospital for many years and later figured people’s taxes. In 1974, she became the superintendent’s secretary for Hinton Schools where she worked until her retirement in 1993.  She was a member of the Quest Club and the First Baptist Church in Hinton. Throughout her life, Edna sewed for both daughters, making many of Pam’s clothes as a child and making wedding gowns for Tricia as a young lady.  Since moving to Homestead Assisted Living Center in Weatherford, she has enjoyed meeting old friends and participating in the various activities at the Center, including leading morning exercise and calling the Bingo numbers. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Lillie Hancock, husband Bill Sparks, and her brother Kenneth Hancock.

Edna is survived by her two daughters, Pamela Ann Robinson of Shawnee, Patricia Ann Archer and her husband Franklin of Hinton; grandchildren, Dawson Kaleph Weathers and his wife Whitney and Sheradyn Grace Watson and her husband Kyle; great grandchildren, Neelie, Tatum, Baby Boy Weathers, Daxlee, and Decker Watson.

Family will be receiving friends and family during visitation at Hinton Turner Funeral Home, Saturday, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, 12-7-2024, Hinton, OK

Service:  First Baptist Church, Tuesday, 10:00 AM, December 10, 2024, Hinton, OK

Officiating:  Rev. Keith Gillham

Burial:  Hinton Cemetery, Hinton, OK

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children or First Baptist Church, Hinton, OK.