Ray Calvin Sparks, age 83 of Blairsville, Georgia passed away March 4, 2021. He was born in Marion, North Carolina to the late Laurence and Ola Toney Sparks. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two brothers, Bill Sparks and Dean Sparks, sister Betty Sparks Gullet, and grandson, Andrew Perry.
Ray had a career in the construction industry for over 40 years and was a veteran of the United States Air Force.
Mr. Sparks is survived by his wife of 61 years, Patricia Ann “Pat” Robinson Sparks; daughters Wendy (Willie) Brown, Beth (Rob) Hovis, Joni (Derrill) Perry, and son David (Michelle) Sparks; 11 grandchildren Noah (Angelica) Brown, Ian (Shane) Brown, Rebekah (Carsten) Bradley, Jena (Ryan) Seay, Robert (Danielle) Hovis, Jr., Autumn (Cameron) Lovett, Ashlyn (Scott) Benton, Allie Perry, Aaron Perry, Sadie (Jameson) Foote, and Dakota Ray Sparks; and 14 great grandchildren.
Ray was an accomplished athlete, successful playing basketball and football in high school, boxing at the local YMCA and while in the Air Force. Later he was most happy trout fishing in the rivers and streams of North Georgia or golfing across the U.S. Ray joined the United States Air Force after high school, and he was stationed in Korea just after the war. He left the mountains of North Carolina in 1963 and moved to Atlanta, Georgia to begin a lifelong career in the construction industry. He learned the trade in the Atlanta Carpenters Union, and mastered his craft as a trim carpenter, framer, and home builder. He passed down his skills, along with his work ethic, to his children, grandchildren, and numerous apprentices over the years. Ray and Pat also owned The Herb Shop in Fayetteville, Georgia for over 20 years.
Ray was a very simple man; a man of faith and a man of his word. Perhaps the greatest joys in his life were his children and his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
A private family burial will be held at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens in McDonough
