Obituary: Chris L. Sparks

Chris Sparks (Phot: Carmody Flynn)

 

Chris L. Sparks, 61, of Gibson City, passed away at 1:27 a.m., Sunday, December 9, 2018 at his home.

His funeral will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday December 15, 2018 at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington with Rev. Randy Reese officiating.  Burial will be in Hudson Township Cemetery, Hudson.  Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, December 14, 2018 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to the family to be donated to the “Breakfast Club” in Gibson City.

Chris was born May 23, 1957, the son of Doris May Sparks and Willis Slaughter, Sr. He married Linda L. Needy on June 27, 1985 in Bloomington.

Survivors include his wife, Linda of Gibson City; a son, Jim (Joyce) Dodson of Rantoul, a daughter, Pleshette Dodson of Gibson City; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Sue (Brian Conklin) Slaughter of Paxton; three brothers, Will Slaughter of Bloomington, Terry Slaughter of Danvers and Bill (Mary) Slaughter of El Paso.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents and a daughter, Angel.

Chris worked in manufacturing throughout his life and had worked for Eureka Company in Bloomington, White Cap Inc. in Champaign and Alamo in Gibson City.

To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…