Earline (Sparks) Barger

Earline Sparks Barger, 76, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, passed away on May 2, 2019, in Fort Smith.  She was born on December 1, 1942, in Brushy Community, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, the daughter of Earl and Florence (Martin) Sparks.  She was married to Bobby Lee Barger on June 22, 1963, in Stillwell, Oklahoma. Mrs. Barger was an elementary school teacher for nearly 30 years with the majority of her career at Marble City Public Schools.  She also taught at Kansas City, KS Public Schools, Wyandotte, Alluwe, Brushy, and Moffett.  She also was the owner/operator of Sparks Grocery north of Sallisaw.

Mrs. Barger was educated in Brushy Schools and graduated from Sallisaw High School at 16 years old, then Northeastern State University at age 20. She was a proud Cherokee Nation citizen who never missed voting in an election, and helped all she knew to get enrolled in the Cherokee Nation. She was one of the founders of the Cherokee Nation Community Center at Brushy.  She enjoyed genealogy, visiting with family, puzzles, and spending time with her grandkids.

Survivors are:

husband: Bobby Lee Barger of Sallisaw;

3 daughters & 2 sons-in-law: Tracey Barger of Sallisaw, OK, Barbara Sparks and Geoffrey of Concordia, MO, and Jennifer Barger Johnson and Eric of Oklahoma City, OK;

5 grandsons and 1 granddaughter: Jacob Sparks of Columbia, MO, John Sparks of Columbia, MO, Samuel Johnson of Oklahoma City, OK, Olivia Johnson of Oklahoma City, OK, Rylan Sparks of Ardmore, OK, and Colten Coachman of Ardmore, OK;

2 sisters & 1 brother-in-law: Maxine Sparks of Sallisaw, OK, and Sandra Holman and Dale of Sallisaw, OK;

3 brothers & 3 sisters-in-law: Larry Sparks and Nancy of Sallisaw, OK, Dale Sparks and Barbara of Sallisaw, OK, and Joe Sparks and Beverly of Sallisaw, OK;

numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends

She was preceded in death by her parents: Earl and Florence Sparks, her aunt: Loyce Woodward, and her grandparents: Jim and Mollie Martin.

Funeral service will be May 6, 2019 at 1:00 PM at Agent Mallory Martin Chapel in Sallisaw, Oklahoma.  Burial will follow at Brushy Cemetery under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw.

Visitation will be 10 AM – 8 PM Saturday and 2 – 8 PM Sunday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw where the family will greet from 2 – 4 PM Sunday.

Pallbearers will be Jacob Sparks, John Sparks, Samuel Johnson, Martin Pettit, Charles Dewayne Barger, Jeff Holman, Larry Michael Sparks, and Preston Sparks.