C. Lucille Sparling, 96, of Raymore died Oct. 1, 2016, at Foxwood Springs Skilled Nursing Facility in Raymore. Mrs. Sparling was born June 27, 1920, in Miller, the daughter of the late Loyd and Wava (Bryant) Dilday. She grew up in Miller and graduated from Miller High School and then from Missouri Teachers College in Springfield with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. While in college she began dating a circuit-riding Methodist pastor named George Sparling, and the two were married and moved to Texas where he completed his seminary training. The couple returned to Missouri to minister in churches in Deering, Salem, De Soto, Joplin, Sedalia, Liberty, Poplar Bluff and St. James before retirement. Through her many transitions, Mrs. Sparling maintained a network of friends through her 60-plus year membership in P.E.O. She was preceded in death by her husband: the Rev. George E. Sparling.
She is survived by a son: Bruce (Cindy) Sparling; a daughter: Jan (Lyndon) Sparling-Herring; two grandchildren: Dr. Jeff (Carrie) Sparling and Dr. David (Dr. Crystal) Sparling; and three great-grandchildren: Kate, Charlotte and Grey. She was preceded in death by a sister: Avanelle Barnett.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel in Springfield. Graveside services will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Miller Memorial Gardens in Miller, followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral service at Schweitzer United Methodist Church in Springfield. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Committee on Relief, c/o Schweitzer United Methodist Church, 2747 E. Sunshine, Springfield, 65804; or to Cottey College, 1000 W. Austin Blvd., Nevada, 64772-2790. Arrangements were under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.