Bessie Faye Sparling

    Bessie Faye Bower Sparling, 88, of Waterford Ohio, went into the loving arms of her Savior and husband Donnie on the night of May 5th, 2017.  She did not go without a fight or alone, because the nurse held the phone to her ear to listen to Taneka, Cole and her baby Drew tell her how much she was loved.  They said her heart beat faster and she shed a tear from her eye.

    Bessie was born June 3rd, 1928, in the hills of West Virginia to Dovie Queen Bower and Albert Bower. She had a twin sister Jessie Gaye, two more sisters June and Marge as two brothers Lan and Bud Bower.  Growing up poor taught Bessie many things.  Her mother taught her how to take one egg and stretch into a meal, make home remedies she has passed down to her granddaughters who still use.

    Bessie was the hardest working woman most people ever knew.  She left her home in West Virginia and moved to Ohio to become a house aide, cooking, cleaning, and babysitting for a small wage.  She then worked at a basket weaving plant, and was a Waterford Twp. Trustee for 16 yrs. (a job she truly loved).  She was a housewife and worked alongside her husband for over 50 years farming at Sparling's Farm until last year.  Her true job was being a wife, mother, and grandmother.

    People would never imagine that Bessie, who knew everyone in Waterford, was the shy twin. And that Donnie talked to Jessie first. Fate won out, and Bessie married the love of her life on Nov. 22, 1947 In Pomeroy, OH.  They ran off to be married because they were underage at that time.  They had a wonderful marriage of 68 years.  The love gave them two sons; Donald "Pete" (Cathy Coler) and Wyndham (Penny McCollough).  They loved and spoiled these boys and she was always so proud of them.

    Bessie was the proud grandmother of Jason (Tara) Sparling, Taneka (Craig) Sparling-Ponchak, Greg (Stephanie) Sparling, Harvest (Mark) Lang,  Shawna (Doug) Landaker and Cierra (John) Lang.  She had many great grandchildren whom she loved to hold and pat their butts.  First was Drew Sparling-Ponchak, Skylee Lang, Cole Sparling-Ponchak, Ashton Lang, Seneca Lang, Maxwell Lang, Alyssa Davis, Liam Landaker, Scott Sparling, Alexandria Sparling, and Gabriel Landaker.

    Bessie paid dues to be in many organizations and sent flowers every Easter and Christmas to Waterford United Methodist Church.  However, she loved to send monetary donations to online Christian TV shows.  She was a woman of faith and had the best soul because she continually gave to anyone who needed help. She loved giving pumpkins to Waterford Kindergarten.  She was always giving plants to people who couldn't afford to pay.  She knew what it was to need food since her mom used one egg to make five kids lunch. She made the best eggs ever eaten  Her sons and friends will miss her prized meals of squirrel with squirrel gravy, and sweet potatoes. She actually made a lot of the best things like cabbage rolls, strawberry shortcake, homemade pancakes, cinnamon rolls, macaroni and cheese, famous pies, and many other things. 

   Last April her husband preceded her in death.  And throughout this year she lost the rest of her sisters and her brother in law Hillie.  

 Bessie loved roosters and like a rooster she was feisty and beautiful.  She took great pride in all of her work.  She would say "I may be old, but my mind still works".   Help us celebrate the best woman we ever knew and loved. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at the Beverly United Methodist Church with Mrs. Patsy Hensler officiating. Burial will be in the Sparling Family Cemetery. Friends may call 2-8 pm on Tuesday at McCurdy Funeral Home in Beverly.  

    Memorial contributions may be made to the Beverly Waterford Emergency Squad or the Beverly Volunteer fire Dept. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.mccurdyfh.com.

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