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Sheryl Jo <I>Murphy</I> Sparks

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Sheryl Jo Murphy Sparks

Birth
Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa, USA
Death
25 Nov 2011 (aged 63)
Kern County, California, USA
Burial
Costa Mesa, Orange County, California, USA Add to Map
Plot
Bottom of Plot 70-71_Cremation Bench
Memorial ID
View Source
Sheryl Jo (Murphy) Sparks was born October 29, 1948 in a small farming community in Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa to Joseph and Patricia (Mark) Murphy. She lived on a farm for the first year of her life. Her family moved to Long Beach, California in 1949 when her maternal grandmother was ill. Her family stayed in Long Beach to care for her grandfather, after her grandmother passed away. Her family stayed in Long Beach, California and never returned to Iowa to live. Sheryl attended Jane Addams Elementary, Lindbergh Jr. High and started high school at Jordan High. Her family moved to Lakewood in 1964, and she graduated from Lakewood High School in 1966.
She married Ronald Bevers, December 26, 1965. After her high school graduation, she joined her husband in Germany where he was serving in the Military. She spent a little over a year in Germany until she returned to the United States. Ron and Sheryl lived in Long Beach and it was there they started their family. Their daughter Paula Marie, born August 31 1969, and their son Mark Aron, born September 17, 1971, both in Long Beach. They later moved to Cerritos where they raised their children.
She helped out with the family income by being a nanny for infants for several years. She did this so she could stay home and raise Paula and Mark. She began taking management classes after her children were grown and that is where she met a fellow student that eventually helped her obtain a position at the Long Beach Schools Financial Credit Union as a Human Resource Assistant. She loved being organized and was always coming up with new ways to improve the way work flowed through the office. She enjoyed her job and always loved the daily interactions with her teammates. She was an employee at the Credit union for 16 years, until she retired in 2006.
Sheryl was lucky enough to find love a 2nd time. She met Don in 1998. After 8 years together, Don and Sheryl married January 2, 2006. Their marriage was witnessed by her sister Madonna and brother-in-law, Gary.
Sheryl didn't retire because she wanted to, but because she was becoming too ill to do the daily functions of her job. She was diagnosed with ITP in the late 1990's, which is Idiopathic thrombocytopenic Purpura. It is a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting. Persons with the disease have too few platelets in the blood. At first the disease didn't cause too many problems, but as it progressed along with the medication she needed to take, took its toll on her. Sheryl spent numerous times at Long Beach Memorial Hospital for one thing after another over the years and caused her a great deal of mental anguish as well. Her husband, Don rarely left her side during her hospital stays and was always there looking after her making sure she was getting the best care possible. When she would return home he took care of her day and night, unselfishly, making sure she had everything she needed to heal and be comfortable. He never complained. He just wanted to make sure he was doing everything possible for her. Sheryl was not always a good patient, so Don's job wasn't easy or smooth sailing, but he took care of her nevertheless. He took her to her Dr. Visits, especially the last couple of years. He spent countless days and nights just sitting by her side, helping her mentally, as well as physically. Sheryl appreciated everything Don did for her and loved him very much, even though she felt she didn't tell him that enough times.
Sheryl was always meticulous in her housekeeping, her children, and her personal self. She was a wonderful mother to her children and a loving wife, always trying to balance out her family life, putting everyone ahead of herself. She would spend a huge amount of time, talking with her children, trying to get them through life by relating to them her experiences she learned while growing up and was passionate about helping Paula and Mark in every way she could. She worried about them all the time and was on cloud nine when they spent time with her. She enjoyed taking her children out to eat, particularly at Mi Casa in Lakewood. She was proud of everything they accomplished in life and would brag about those accomplishments to everyone she met.
She was such an intricate part of her niece, Jodi (Missy) and nephew, Gary's (Little Gary) lives as children and adults. She was like their other mother and was there for every important event in their lives. Sheryl loved spending time with all her family including her sister-in-laws and their families from her first marriage. They were very dear to her heart even after the first marriage ended. She adored her life-long friends and loved all the ones she met along the way, and her credit union family.
Sheryl, along with her sister, Madonna, were Brownie leaders for their daughters, Paula and Jodi, when they were in elementary school. She enjoyed going to her son, Mark's, baseball games and that of her nephew, Gary. She loved going camping, something her family did yearly while she was young and camping with her family later on during her adulthood. She loved just going places, even if it was just a ride in the car. She recently got to enjoy a day trip with her son down at Crystal Cove and had lunch. She loved to take mini-vacations with her sister. Some of their trips included, Winchester House, Alcatraz, Reno, Catalina, Las Vegas and Monterey.
Sheryl loved many things in life. She loved spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren. She loved her sister dearly and was her very best friend. Many of her cherished moments include being with her sister. She adored her dogs and turtles. She loved playing cards, backgammon, and cribbage, bingo, and was pretty good at shuffle-board and pinball. She was HIGHLY competitive and always wanted to be the best. If you were on her team, you'd better pay attention and not make any mistakes or there would be hell to pay. Sheryl loved to people watch and try to figure out all the stranger's lives. She loved the color red and everything about it. She loved Betty Boop and Dreamcicles. She loved Elvis Presley and even went to his concert. She loved fifties music. She loved to sing and dance and would bump you right off the floor if you were in her way. She loved her pajamas and that it what you would catch her in if you showed up without her expecting you. Otherwise, she would dress to the hilt making sure every strand of hair was in perfect position, nails and toes polished, and bright lipstick in place. You could not escape a visit with Sheryl without a lipstick kiss planted on your cheek. She was always full of hugs and kisses and big giant smiles. She liked Perry Mason, Murder She Wrote, CSI, and Nancy Drew Mystery books. She loved her computer and enjoyed playing Farmville and other Facebook games (even though she was convinced Facebook was owned by some other country and were spying on us). Sheryl was a true Scorpio through and through, jealous and suspicious of everything. She could entertain her family countless hours with some of her ridiculous theories and antics. She fought for what she believed and could argue her point until she was blue in the face (or until the opposing force just gave up). Sheryl wasn't able to get around very well the past few years, so she was stuck to a computer. She would spend countless hours just checking on how people were doing and commenting on their Facebook statuses always telling you how beautiful you are and she loves you. She knew everything about everyone.
Sheryl and Don would spend as much time as they could with their grandsons, Joseph and Brandon. They really enjoyed taking the boys camping. It was while camping with her husband, Don, along with Joseph and Brandon that God saw it fit to take Sheryl home with him. He knew she was tired, and she had suffered enough, and no cure was to be found. She is now with all of her loved one's that have passed before her. They all welcomed her with their outstretched arms and embraced her, even though her loved one's she left behind will be grieving for her and reaching out to her always, wishing she was here.
Sheryl passed away November 25, 2011. Those left to mourn her are her husband, Donald Sparks; her daughter, Paula Marie Ensley and grandson's Joseph and Brandon Ensley; her son, Mark Aron Bevers; her siblings, James Mark and wife Sherri Murphy, Madonna Marie Wallace, and Billy Lee and his wife Donna Murphy. Sheryl has also left behind nieces, nephews, great-nephews/nieces, and other family and friends who she loved dearly.
Sheryl Jo (Murphy) Sparks was born October 29, 1948 in a small farming community in Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa to Joseph and Patricia (Mark) Murphy. She lived on a farm for the first year of her life. Her family moved to Long Beach, California in 1949 when her maternal grandmother was ill. Her family stayed in Long Beach to care for her grandfather, after her grandmother passed away. Her family stayed in Long Beach, California and never returned to Iowa to live. Sheryl attended Jane Addams Elementary, Lindbergh Jr. High and started high school at Jordan High. Her family moved to Lakewood in 1964, and she graduated from Lakewood High School in 1966.
She married Ronald Bevers, December 26, 1965. After her high school graduation, she joined her husband in Germany where he was serving in the Military. She spent a little over a year in Germany until she returned to the United States. Ron and Sheryl lived in Long Beach and it was there they started their family. Their daughter Paula Marie, born August 31 1969, and their son Mark Aron, born September 17, 1971, both in Long Beach. They later moved to Cerritos where they raised their children.
She helped out with the family income by being a nanny for infants for several years. She did this so she could stay home and raise Paula and Mark. She began taking management classes after her children were grown and that is where she met a fellow student that eventually helped her obtain a position at the Long Beach Schools Financial Credit Union as a Human Resource Assistant. She loved being organized and was always coming up with new ways to improve the way work flowed through the office. She enjoyed her job and always loved the daily interactions with her teammates. She was an employee at the Credit union for 16 years, until she retired in 2006.
Sheryl was lucky enough to find love a 2nd time. She met Don in 1998. After 8 years together, Don and Sheryl married January 2, 2006. Their marriage was witnessed by her sister Madonna and brother-in-law, Gary.
Sheryl didn't retire because she wanted to, but because she was becoming too ill to do the daily functions of her job. She was diagnosed with ITP in the late 1990's, which is Idiopathic thrombocytopenic Purpura. It is a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting. Persons with the disease have too few platelets in the blood. At first the disease didn't cause too many problems, but as it progressed along with the medication she needed to take, took its toll on her. Sheryl spent numerous times at Long Beach Memorial Hospital for one thing after another over the years and caused her a great deal of mental anguish as well. Her husband, Don rarely left her side during her hospital stays and was always there looking after her making sure she was getting the best care possible. When she would return home he took care of her day and night, unselfishly, making sure she had everything she needed to heal and be comfortable. He never complained. He just wanted to make sure he was doing everything possible for her. Sheryl was not always a good patient, so Don's job wasn't easy or smooth sailing, but he took care of her nevertheless. He took her to her Dr. Visits, especially the last couple of years. He spent countless days and nights just sitting by her side, helping her mentally, as well as physically. Sheryl appreciated everything Don did for her and loved him very much, even though she felt she didn't tell him that enough times.
Sheryl was always meticulous in her housekeeping, her children, and her personal self. She was a wonderful mother to her children and a loving wife, always trying to balance out her family life, putting everyone ahead of herself. She would spend a huge amount of time, talking with her children, trying to get them through life by relating to them her experiences she learned while growing up and was passionate about helping Paula and Mark in every way she could. She worried about them all the time and was on cloud nine when they spent time with her. She enjoyed taking her children out to eat, particularly at Mi Casa in Lakewood. She was proud of everything they accomplished in life and would brag about those accomplishments to everyone she met.
She was such an intricate part of her niece, Jodi (Missy) and nephew, Gary's (Little Gary) lives as children and adults. She was like their other mother and was there for every important event in their lives. Sheryl loved spending time with all her family including her sister-in-laws and their families from her first marriage. They were very dear to her heart even after the first marriage ended. She adored her life-long friends and loved all the ones she met along the way, and her credit union family.
Sheryl, along with her sister, Madonna, were Brownie leaders for their daughters, Paula and Jodi, when they were in elementary school. She enjoyed going to her son, Mark's, baseball games and that of her nephew, Gary. She loved going camping, something her family did yearly while she was young and camping with her family later on during her adulthood. She loved just going places, even if it was just a ride in the car. She recently got to enjoy a day trip with her son down at Crystal Cove and had lunch. She loved to take mini-vacations with her sister. Some of their trips included, Winchester House, Alcatraz, Reno, Catalina, Las Vegas and Monterey.
Sheryl loved many things in life. She loved spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren. She loved her sister dearly and was her very best friend. Many of her cherished moments include being with her sister. She adored her dogs and turtles. She loved playing cards, backgammon, and cribbage, bingo, and was pretty good at shuffle-board and pinball. She was HIGHLY competitive and always wanted to be the best. If you were on her team, you'd better pay attention and not make any mistakes or there would be hell to pay. Sheryl loved to people watch and try to figure out all the stranger's lives. She loved the color red and everything about it. She loved Betty Boop and Dreamcicles. She loved Elvis Presley and even went to his concert. She loved fifties music. She loved to sing and dance and would bump you right off the floor if you were in her way. She loved her pajamas and that it what you would catch her in if you showed up without her expecting you. Otherwise, she would dress to the hilt making sure every strand of hair was in perfect position, nails and toes polished, and bright lipstick in place. You could not escape a visit with Sheryl without a lipstick kiss planted on your cheek. She was always full of hugs and kisses and big giant smiles. She liked Perry Mason, Murder She Wrote, CSI, and Nancy Drew Mystery books. She loved her computer and enjoyed playing Farmville and other Facebook games (even though she was convinced Facebook was owned by some other country and were spying on us). Sheryl was a true Scorpio through and through, jealous and suspicious of everything. She could entertain her family countless hours with some of her ridiculous theories and antics. She fought for what she believed and could argue her point until she was blue in the face (or until the opposing force just gave up). Sheryl wasn't able to get around very well the past few years, so she was stuck to a computer. She would spend countless hours just checking on how people were doing and commenting on their Facebook statuses always telling you how beautiful you are and she loves you. She knew everything about everyone.
Sheryl and Don would spend as much time as they could with their grandsons, Joseph and Brandon. They really enjoyed taking the boys camping. It was while camping with her husband, Don, along with Joseph and Brandon that God saw it fit to take Sheryl home with him. He knew she was tired, and she had suffered enough, and no cure was to be found. She is now with all of her loved one's that have passed before her. They all welcomed her with their outstretched arms and embraced her, even though her loved one's she left behind will be grieving for her and reaching out to her always, wishing she was here.
Sheryl passed away November 25, 2011. Those left to mourn her are her husband, Donald Sparks; her daughter, Paula Marie Ensley and grandson's Joseph and Brandon Ensley; her son, Mark Aron Bevers; her siblings, James Mark and wife Sherri Murphy, Madonna Marie Wallace, and Billy Lee and his wife Donna Murphy. Sheryl has also left behind nieces, nephews, great-nephews/nieces, and other family and friends who she loved dearly.


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  • Created by: Madonna Wallace
  • Added: Jan 17, 2012
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83609941/sheryl_jo-sparks: accessed ), memorial page for Sheryl Jo Murphy Sparks (29 Oct 1948–25 Nov 2011), Find a Grave Memorial ID 83609941, citing Harbor Lawn-Mount Olive Memorial Park, Costa Mesa, Orange County, California, USA; Maintained by Madonna Wallace (contributor 46935746).