Carol Joyce Sparks, 84, of Gruver, passed away February 5, 2022. Viewing will be on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 9:00a.m. until 9:00p.m. and Thursday, February 10, 2022 from 9:00a.m. until 9:00p.m. Family Visitation will be held 6-8pm on Thursday February 10th at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Spearman. Memorial services will be Friday, February 11 at 11am at the Gruver Church of Christ, with Pastor Randy Messer officiating.  Family internment will be held prior at the Gruver Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman.

Joyce was born October 17, 1937 in Graham, Texas to Robert and Faye Wallace. She grew up in Happy, Texas, and attended Happy High School. She met Jack Sparks in Amarillo, and the couple were married July 29, 1960. Jack and Joyce moved to Gruver in 1967. Joyce worked in restaurants and the school cafeteria, and also ran a sewing business for the community out of her home. She also worked part-time helping with the local harvest season, driving corn trucks for area farmers. In 1980, she began managing the Gruver Dairy Queen, a position she held for over 20 years. After retiring, she worked as a bookkeeper for Gruver Redi-Mix. Throughout her life, Joyce was well-known as a caring, compassionate, and hard-working member of her community. She was a meticulous bookkeeper and manager and she was a notable cook, famous around Gruver for her enchilada casserole. She enjoyed traveling, occasionally playing at casinos, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Faye Wallace, her husband Marvin Jackson Sparks, Sr, and her eldest daughter Norma Blount. She is survived by daughter Julie Williams and husband Neal of Gruver; son Marvin Jackson Sparks, Jr and wife Dorthy of Amarillo; six grandchildren, four great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She is also survived by sisters Paulette Lea of Amarillo, and Marylin Andregg and husband Bob of Rogers, Arkansas, and brothers Mickey Wallace and wife Vera of Weir, and Ricky Wallace and wife Bonnie of Rogers, Arkansas.

Pallbearers include Benjamin Williams, Mark Landon, Joshua Blount, Albert Sinclair, Clayton Thompson, and Ricky Thompson.

Honorary pallbearers include Neal Williams, Robert Blount, Randy Lowe, Howard Thompson and Bobby Thompson.

Memorial donations may be given to the Gruver Cemetery Association, PO Box 947, Gruver, TX 79040.

The family would like to thank Virginia Green and Privilege Care Home in Amarillo for making Joyce feel welcome in a new home and providing the extra caregiving she needed.