Layne Sparks
On Saturday, February 27, 2021, Layne Sparks, loving husband and father of three children, passed away at the age of 88. Layne was born Carroll Layne Sparks on March 26, 1932 in Hot Springs, Arkansas to Harry Allen Sparks and Ann
Beulah (Ammons) Sparks. He graduated from Mt. Ida High School and attended college at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. Layne served in the U.S. Army, and was stationed in Japan during the end of the Korean War, where he was promoted to corporal. He worked in accounting first at Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, but gave up a lucrative career there because he so missed living in Arkansas. He worked for 35 years before retiring from McClure’s in Malvern.
On January 10, 1953, in
Mount Ida, Arkansas Layne married Betty Sue Pierce. They were married for 68 years. They had two daughters, Karen and Kristi, and one son, Kraig.
Layne loved the outdoors and was never happier than when he was working the land: mowing, cutting trees, burning brush, and working on his many homes. Layne loved trading and his wife Betty shares that she was never certain when he was going to come home and announce that he had just sold her car, or that they were moving because he had traded houses!
Layne was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Malvern, where he served as a deacon for many years. He was an honest man and a faithful friend to all who knew him.
Layne was preceded in death by his father, Harry and his mother, Ann; an older brother, Ammon; and his daughter Karen. He is survived by his wife Betty, his daughter Kristi (Sparks) Brown and her husband, Tom, of Greenville, Texas, his son Kraig Sparks and his wife, Vicki, of Benton, Arkansas, and five grandchildren: Karen Brown of Greenville, Texas; Zachary Brown of Mexia, Texas; Nikolas Sparks stationed with USAF; Anna Sparks of Benton, Arkansas; and Tate Sparks, also of Benton, Arkansas. He is also survived by his brother, Alan (Buddy) Sparks and his wife, Barbara, of Rogers, Arkansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The visitation and funeral services will both be held at Regency Funeral Home of Malvern. The visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 3rd from 5-7 pm and the funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Bucket Ministry (thebucketministry.org) or locally to First Baptist Church Malvern for their Family Life Center Building Fund.
Pallbearers are Tracy Robbins, Frank McClure, Danny Riggan, Tate Sparks, Kevin Crites, and Phil Hardy. The Honorary Pallbearers are Jerry Skinner, Bill Hughes, and Jim Williams.
Arrangements are by Regency Funeral Home. You may sign the guest book at regencyfuneralhome.com.
Obituaries are published daily as they are submitted and have not been edited by MDR.