Mary Susan Smith Sparks

Monroe- Funeral Services Celebrating the life of Susan Sparks aka “Sugie”, 69, of Monroe will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday May 20, 2021, at Grace Episcopal Church with The Very Rev. Dawnell Stodghill officiating. Interment will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home in Monroe, Louisiana. A Celebration of her life will be held at the family home on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. during wine time as she wished.
After a sudden and brief illness, Susan passed away Friday, May 14, 2021, surrounded by her family. She was born in Munich, Germany on January 24, 1952, to Guy and Mary Smith. Susan was a 1969 graduate of Neville High School. Following graduation, Susan attended Northeast Louisiana University where she majored in Elementary Education and was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She remained life -long friends with her KD sister Dottie Harrington. After graduating from Northeast Louisiana University, she pursued her Master of Education at Louisiana State University. Susan taught for many years and later she was the Principal of Grace Episcopal School before her retirement in 1991. She was very active in the ministries of Grace Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana, as well as numerous service organizations.
Susan is preceded in death by her husband and best friend “Tommy” Wood Thompson Sparks, her parents, Guy Smith and Mary Smith, and her brother Carl Smith. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth Sparks McQueen and her husband Philip; Jennifer Carter Sparks and Susie Sparks Lefebvre and husband Richard; grandchildren and the gems of her life, Sarah Thompson McQueen, “Meme” Mary Elizabeth McQueen, and “Tommy” Thompson Anthony Lefebvre; sister Ellen Keifer of Bosie, ID; special family member Martha Cordell, and several cousins, nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved deeply.
Susan was a woman of many accomplishments, but to Sugie, her greatest accomplishment was her family. There was nothing she enjoyed more than daily family gatherings at 5:00 p.m., family trips to the beach and spending time at her grandchildren’s various events. She was one of the most selfless, and generous women one would meet and a person who was a straight shooter with everyone. Truly a person of true integrity and impeccable character. She fought such a brief illness and ultimately won by going to be with her best friend and soul mate Tommy.
Pallbearers will be David Cordell, George Dean, Palmer Jarrell and Steve Mintz.
The family expresses their deepest gratitude and appreciation to the entire staff at Saint Francis Medical Center, the CVRU Unit, Telementary Unit, P&S Cath Lab, Dr. John Bruchhaus, Dr. Jimmy Smith, Dr. Louie Crook, Dr. Alvaro Manrique, Dr. Micheal Barnidge, and Dr. Bart Liles. We will always and forever be grateful for your compassion, care and making an unbearable situation more bearable.
Memorial may be made to:
Camp Quality (1800 Forsythe Avenue Ste. 2 Box 307 Monroe, LA 71201)
Pilots for Patients (3127 Mercedes Drive Monroe, LA 71201)
The John Clarke Perry Foundation (4213 Adeline Lane Monroe, LA 71201)