Obituary for Nancy Sparks Lawrence
Nancy Lawrence passed away peacefully on February 14, 2022. The only child of Tom and Edith Sparks, she was born September 24, 1928 in American Falls, Idaho. She grew up there, attending American Falls High School (always a proud beaver!) where she was active in various school clubs. She graduated in 1946 and went on to attend Idaho State University, where she earned a BA degree in English in 1950.
The following year, Nancy began her career in education, teaching English and Journalism at Burley High School. It was there she met Agriculture teacher John Lawrence. They were married in March of 1951. The couple moved to Twin Falls in 1952 and started their family. Nancy stayed home to raise her daughters, Karolyn and Jan, returning to work as an English teacher at Twin Falls High School once her girls entered school. She enjoyed her students and the opportunity to share with them her love of language and literature.
In 1972, she and John moved to Moscow, Idaho. She loved the community and the home they made there, where she was an officer for the University of Idaho faculty wives, and a devoted hospital auxiliary and hospice volunteer. Nancy was also active in the University of Idaho Gamma Phi Beta alumni group and served as president of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Mothers Club. While there, she also proudly watched both her daughters graduate from the University of Idaho.
After losing her beloved husband John in 1978, she remained a few years in Moscow before ultimately deciding to move back to Twin Falls in 1985. She wanted to live near and spend her time with her daughters and granddaughters.
Throughout her life, Nancy was a proud P.E.O. Chapter BE member, served on the national scholarship committee for the Alpha Delta Kappa educational organization, was an active Friends of Stricker board member, and a member of the Kimberly Reader’s Guild book club. She was feisty, sassy and quirky- with a deep passion for reading books and the newspaper (and writing letters to the editor), and tracing family history. She was proud to be a direct descendent of the Sparks family early pioneer cattle ranchers. She absolutely adored her cats. But, above all, she loved spending time with her girls and granddaughters. You could always find her in attendance at each of their sporting events, school activities and music recitals.
She spent the last 10 years of her life under the care of the staff at DeSano Village Memory Care facility in Jerome. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to those who took such excellent, loving care of her.
Affectionally known as “Grammy” to her grandkids and most who knew her, she will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. She was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Edith Sparks, her husband John Lawrence, and her daughter Jan Freestone. She is survived by her daughter Karolyn (Bob) Watts, her son-in-law Walter Freestone, her granddaughters Ellen (James) Upson, Bonnie (Karl) Peters, Charlotte (Don) Hanni, her grandson Ryan (Helen) Carnie, and great grandchildren Hazel, Kalvin, Archer, Kyler, Ginny, Duran, and Peter.
The family will be holding a private burial. A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations please be sent to People For Pets-Twin Falls Animal Shelter in Nancy’s memory.
The following year, Nancy began her career in education, teaching English and Journalism at Burley High School. It was there she met Agriculture teacher John Lawrence. They were married in March of 1951. The couple moved to Twin Falls in 1952 and started their family. Nancy stayed home to raise her daughters, Karolyn and Jan, returning to work as an English teacher at Twin Falls High School once her girls entered school. She enjoyed her students and the opportunity to share with them her love of language and literature.
In 1972, she and John moved to Moscow, Idaho. She loved the community and the home they made there, where she was an officer for the University of Idaho faculty wives, and a devoted hospital auxiliary and hospice volunteer. Nancy was also active in the University of Idaho Gamma Phi Beta alumni group and served as president of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Mothers Club. While there, she also proudly watched both her daughters graduate from the University of Idaho.
After losing her beloved husband John in 1978, she remained a few years in Moscow before ultimately deciding to move back to Twin Falls in 1985. She wanted to live near and spend her time with her daughters and granddaughters.
Throughout her life, Nancy was a proud P.E.O. Chapter BE member, served on the national scholarship committee for the Alpha Delta Kappa educational organization, was an active Friends of Stricker board member, and a member of the Kimberly Reader’s Guild book club. She was feisty, sassy and quirky- with a deep passion for reading books and the newspaper (and writing letters to the editor), and tracing family history. She was proud to be a direct descendent of the Sparks family early pioneer cattle ranchers. She absolutely adored her cats. But, above all, she loved spending time with her girls and granddaughters. You could always find her in attendance at each of their sporting events, school activities and music recitals.
She spent the last 10 years of her life under the care of the staff at DeSano Village Memory Care facility in Jerome. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to those who took such excellent, loving care of her.
Affectionally known as “Grammy” to her grandkids and most who knew her, she will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. She was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Edith Sparks, her husband John Lawrence, and her daughter Jan Freestone. She is survived by her daughter Karolyn (Bob) Watts, her son-in-law Walter Freestone, her granddaughters Ellen (James) Upson, Bonnie (Karl) Peters, Charlotte (Don) Hanni, her grandson Ryan (Helen) Carnie, and great grandchildren Hazel, Kalvin, Archer, Kyler, Ginny, Duran, and Peter.
The family will be holding a private burial. A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations please be sent to People For Pets-Twin Falls Animal Shelter in Nancy’s memory.