Gerald Sparks

Gerald Leonard Sparks (Pawpaw Gerald), 86 years old, of Provencal, Louisiana, passed away in his home on October 13, 2025, surrounded by loving family. He was born May 6, 1939 to Oscar and Katie Sparks in Bellwood, Louisiana. On November 19, 1957, he married Margie McLaren. The two were married for 65 years and had two daughters, Brenda and Linda. After spending part of their life in Channelview, Texas, they moved to Provencal and lived out the rest of their life.

As an avid outdoorsman, he and Missy, his pride and joy, regularly hiked the woods around Provençal Creek reducing the squirrel population significantly. He could teach any dog to hunt.

Not only was he an infamous squirrel hunter, he was the best welder and fabricator of his time. He was a self-taught engineer and helped to engineer and then build the first of 99 road boarding machines. These machines were drawn out with chalk on his concrete shop floor.

Gerald and Margie always took pride in their garden. If you ever sat on the porch long enough you were going home with one or more of his collards, butterbeans, peas or okra, and let’s not forget his cornmeal!

Gerald is survived by his two daughters: Brenda Sparks Carney (husband Rocky) of Robeline, Linda Sparks (husband Michael Bordelon) of Alexandria. Also survived by grandchildren Rocky Carney Jr (wife Marcy), Amber Howell, all of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Alicia Howell Angelle (husband Caleb) of Lafayette, Louisiana Shawn Bordelon (wife Kasie) of Alexandria, Louisiana and Lauren Bordelon Deen (husband Lance) of Colfax, Louisiana. His great grandchildren are Aidan, Evan, and Andi Carney, Jaxon, Greyson, and Sutton Angelle, Mallory McDaniel, Cole and Caroline Bordelon, Lane, Landry  and Levi Deen. His siblings: Bonnie Rutherford (husband Bob) of DeRidder, Louisiana, Ralph Sparks (wife Marlene) of Deer Park, Texas, J.T. Sparks (wife Linda) of Toledo Bend, Louisiana, Freddy Sparks (wife Ruby) of Provencal, Louisiana. And lots of nieces and nephews. Gerald is proceeded in death by his parents Oscar and Katie Sparks, his brothers Elton Sparks, Clinton Sparks, Don Sparks, Earl Sparks, Carl Sparks and his sister Esther Jackson Blevins. Services will be held at Blanchard St Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, Louisiana, on Friday, October 17, 2025. Visitation will be that morning from 8 am to 10 am with the funeral following. Burial will be at Weaver Cemetery in Flora, Louisiana. The officiant will be Peyton Sparks, his nephew.

Those honored to be pallbearers will be Jeff Sparks, Lynn Sparks, Steve Sparks, Robert McLaren, Brent Rutherford, and Waylon Rials. Honorary pallbearers will be Dan Roque, David Bailey, Lovell Slaughter, Richard Deason, and Roger Howell.

The family would like to say a special thank you to Candice Adcock and all the others at Center Well Health

Blessed are those who die in the Lord. . . for they will rest from hard work; for their good deed follows them! Revelation 14:13