Ruby May BURDICK SPARKS

Enid News and Eagle Enid, Garfield Co., OK

Sept. 9, 2006

Submitted by: Lois BURDICK

OBITUARY

RUBY MAY BURDICK SPARKS

Funeral Services for Ruby May Burdick Sparks, 78, of Enid, will be Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006 at 2 p.m. at Davis Park Christian Church. Rev. Alan Seibel will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrange-ments are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.

She was born August 10, 1928 in Enid to J.L. and Maude Elizabeth Koch Burdick, and died Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006 at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

She grew up in Enid and attended Harrison Elementary School, Emerson Junior High School and Enid High School, where she graduated in 1946. She married Leroy Sparks on March 25, 1949 in Enid. For over 35 years Ruby was involved in the child care business, beginning with an in-home day care, which eventually grew to two separate day care centers, which she owned and operated with her husband until their retirement in 1999. Over the years, hundreds of children attended Ruby’s Child Care Center and many of those children later returned with their own children for Ruby to care for. In 1996, Ruby was honored by the local child care industry for her many years of service to children, and she received the first annual Advocates for Children award.

She was a member of Davis Park Christian Church. Ruby’s hobbies included sewing and crocheting, but the pride and joy of her life was her family. She loved following her kids’ and grandkids’ activities and was proud to show off her pictures and talk about her family.

Ruby is survived by her husband Leroy, of the home; five daughters and sons-in-law, Sandy and Dennis Hladik, Anita and Don Wellman, Donna and Roy Gay, Jeff and Nancy Enabnit, all of Enid; and Susan and Ken Kenner of Vernon, Texas; 13 grandchildren, Joey Hladik, John Hladik and Greg Hladik, Melissa Lohman and her husband, Matt, Melanie Wellman, Curtis Gay, Travis Gay, Emily Enabnit, Nathan Enabnit, Nick Enabnit, Corey Kenner, Cody Kenner and Jessica Kenner; one great-granddaughter, Grace Lohman; a brother, Evert Burdick and his wife Mary Alice of Enid; one sister, Eva Belle McMaster of Acworth, Ga. and her mother-in-law, Hattie Sparks of Enid.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse L. Sr. and Maude E. KOCH BURDICK; five brothers, Jesse L. Jr., Elmer, John, Harold, and Richard, one sister Mary Elizabeth, and one grandson, Michael Wellman.

Memorials in honor of Ruby may be made to Davis Park Christian Church for the benefit of the children’s day care program with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home as custodian of the funds.

Condolences may be made online at ladusauevans@coxinet.net.