Mary Katherine "Kathy" Sparks

Heaven could not wait any longer. On the evening of February 18, 2026, Kathy Sparks passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family.

Her love was beautiful. For her, being a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt was something she treasured very, very much, as she cherished every moment spent with all of her grandbabies.

She was the wonderful mother of three daughters: Tamela Sue Groves, Angel Phillips, and Tonya Preslar.

Mary Katherine Emery was born March 6, 1954, to Ernest Emery and Ruth Lawrence. She is a sibling of nine sisters: Dixie, Shirley, Rosie, Alice, Delores, Brenda, Loretta, and Lela.

She is survived by her sister Lela; her daughters Angel and William Phillips of Chester; and Tonya and Kris Preslar of Herrin.

She carried the name “Grandma” very proudly to Dezirae and Brad Abell of Chester; Travis and Ambryaunna Phillips of Ellis Grove; Tiara and Chris McGee of Marion; Kelsie Phillips of Chester; Austin Hundley of Herrin; and Blake Hundley of Herrin. Along with being a great grandma to Preston Abell, Chaston Abell, Kinlee Phillips, Brysen Martin, Liam Martin, Landynn Phillips, Canon Phillips, Quinten Abell, and Bristyn McGee.

Kathy loved playing cards and board games with her sister Loretta (Ninny). Yahtzee and Sorry were her all-time favorites, along with talking on the phone to her three sisters, Lela, KK, and Ninny.

In her younger years she enjoyed crafts and crocheting with her daughter Angel and loved, loved to dance. At the age of 12, she danced on the Marion Square with Ernest Tubb and Minnie Pearl. They called her “that little gal” because she could move those legs and hips — lol.

Another kid moment for Mary Katherine Emery was when her dad would wake her by singing, “Wake up little Susie, wake up.”

Mary Katherine Sparks is entering heaven with her parents; her firstborn daughter, Tamela Sue Groves; her husband, Eugene Sparks; nephews Shawn Michael and Lamont Nelson; her niece Patricia; and three very close sisters, Shirley, Loretta, and Brenda.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Blue Funeral Home under the direction of Binkley-Ross. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 24, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Blue Funeral Home, located at 1704 North Court Street in Marion. Additional visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 25, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the funeral home, with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 AM, with Pastor Keith Owens officiating. Interment will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Please visit www.binkleyross.com to leave online condolences.