Albert Bruce Sparks SR.

BRUCE SPARKS, SR., was a dreamer not afraid to take risks. He took a risk when he left his hometown of Little Rock, Ark., in the fall of 1978 at the age of 23, fresh from completing a four year union apprenticeship as a carpenter, and following his father's footsteps into the construction trade. He dreamed of being a construction superintendent like his Dad, and to one day be a contractor. So he rolled out of town with his dream in a brand new Mazda RX7 headed for Houston, Texas where he had heard that commercial construction was booming again after the oil crisis of the mid 1970's. He set out hoping to achieve his American Dream. He thought opportunity and the pay would be better in Houston. By all accounts he was right. Even though he did not know anyone there, he quickly landed a job, and it didn't take long for him to become a superintendent. By the time he was 25 he was running jobs at the Herman Memorial Hospital and later supervising large apartment construction projects in Houston, and in Austin. As he gained experience his dream evolved into one of being a contractor and a property developer. He eventually made both dreams come true. The first when at the age of 29 he took another risk and moved back to Little Rock where he joined his father and mother in starting the firm Ross Sparks Builders becoming president. And later he took another risk when at 42 he branched off to help start a residential property development company. Bruce returned to Ross Sparks Builders a few years later, and helped lead the company until 2010 when he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease, which led him to retire. He was 55. Albert Bruce Sparks was born March 31, 1955 in Little Rock, Ark., to Ross and Barbra Sparks. He attended public schools in Mabelvale, and graduated from McClellan High School in 1973. After graduation he began his construction career. He worked on many familiar building projects across the city during the mid-1970's. Then in 1978 he set off for Houston, Texas seeking to achieve his dream of being a construction superintendent and a contractor. He achieved them both. He supervised the construction of hundreds of buildings over his career. He married twice, and had one son with his first wife, and raised two step children with his second wife. Bruce enjoyed life and loved people. He was a sportsman, and loved wing shooting. He raised and trained bird dogs. He loved hunting quail and ducks in Arkansas, and went on many pheasant hunts in the Midwest. He enjoyed fishing too. Family and friends were important to him. Bruce made friends easily, and maintained friendships for a lifetime. He loved to dance. A loved one said, "He could light up any room and busted out the dance moves at any chance he got." Bruce loved his family, he loved his children, he loved his wives, he loved his friends, he loved his dogs, he loved his work, he loved to hunt and fish and he loved to dance. He was a good son, a good brother, a good husband, a good father, and a good friend. He will be missed by many. Bruce was preceded in death by his father Albert Ross Sparks, and is survived, by his mother Barbra Ann Sparks, his brother Bryan K. Sparks, his son Albert Bruce Sparks Jr., and his step-daughter Desty Dycus of Bryant, Ark., and step-son Chris Cotter (Carrie) of Dallas, Texas. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the friends and family that helped with Bruce's care including Brenda Aldridge, Robin Cupul, Rick Jenkins, the many at Life Line Baptist Church, and the Hospice Home Care, but especially to his loving mother, Barbra Sparks, who gave selflessly of her love, her time and her energy to care for him over many years to the very end. A visitation will be held Tuesday July 16, 2019 from 6-8 p.m. at the Dial & Dudley Funeral Home, 4212 Hwy. 5 North, Bryant, Ark., 72022. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday July 17, 2019 at Life Line Baptist Church, 7601 Baseline Road, Little Rock, AR 72209. To sign Online Guestbook: www.dialanddudleyfuneralhome.com.