Donita O. Sparks

Donita Ora Caldwell Sparks, 84, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, formerly of Jennings, Oklahoma went home into the arms of the LORD July 4, 2013. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am, Tuesday, July 9th, at the First Baptist Church in Cleveland with Chaplain Richard Cogan officiating. Interment will follow at the Jennings Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Donita was born on February 3, 1929 in Dombey, Beaver County, Oklahoma to James D. Caldwell and Vergie G. (Foster) Caldwell. She married Lester Sparks on August 4, 1956 in Liberal, Kansas. She was a long time member of the First Baptist Church in Jennings, where she served as Treasurer, Sunday school teacher and Bible School leader and teacher. Donita attended school in Turpin, Oklahoma, graduating in 1947 and went to college in Alva at Northwestern State for two years. She worked as a telephone operator before marrying Lester. She and Lester loved to travel and had several wonderful trips with her sister and brother-in-law JoAnn and Don Potter, long time friends Bob and Virginia Campbell and Dale and Peggy Mumford, just to name a few. Donita was affiliated with the Baptist Builders Association and worked on numerous churches in the area. Donita loved the lord and read her bible daily until health problems precluded her. She always gave God the glory for all the wonderful things in her life. She continued to touch lives while in the hospital. She witnessed to many people there and everyone loved her dearly. Donita loved her family, she was very proud of her children and grandchildren. She had an unconditional love for family and friends; always having words of encouragement for everyone. She was the matriarch of the family. Preceding her death were her husband, Lester Sparks; parents, James and Vergie Caldwell; one brother, Dutch Caldwell; one sister, Coweta Caldwell; grandson, Nick Sparks; and a son-in-law, Mike Hendrickson. She is survived by her children, Debbie Skinner and husband Lester of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Brenda Hendrickson of Ripley, Oklahoma, son Jeff Sparks and wife Kay of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; two grandchildren, Chelsea Hendrickson of Ripley, Oklahoma and Jason Sparks of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; a great-grandson, Aidan Sparks of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; two sisters, Veta Colvin and her husband, Bill of Stillwater, Oklahoma; JoAnn Potter and her husband Don of Walters, Oklahoma; two brothers, JW Caldwell of Beaver, Oklahoma and James Caldwell of Alabaster, Alabama; many nieces and nephews and others relatives and friends. The family would like to thank the Cancer Treatment of America Hospital for their gracious, kindness and loving care of Donita as well as the family. Their constant support was invaluable during Donitaís illness. They would also like to thank RoseRock Hospice of Tulsa, Oklahoma and the ClareHouse of Tulsa, Oklahoma for their invaluable help and loving care during this time.