Patricia D Sparks

June 15, 1945 -June 15, 2021 (age 76)

Patricia died peacefully at home on June 15, 2021.  She was a resident of Puyallup, Washington for the last 43 years.  Pat was born in Glendale, California in 1945 to Beatrice and Randolph Doll of La Canada, California, and spent her youth in the La Canada, Glendale, and Pasadena areas.  She loved the ocean, spending many summer days on the beach in Balboa Island and Newport Beach.  Pat earned a B.S. in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California, and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.  After graduation Pat married Victor Sparks, and for the next six years worked as an Occupational Therapist at Glendale Adventist Hospital.  In 1972, with a desire for adventure and travel, Pat and her husband moved to Australia where they lived in the Bush hundreds of miles from the nearest city.  They lived on a 2000-acre Sheep Station, and it was not uncommon to see Pat riding horses and shearing sheep.  Although she lived in a small community, she started the first Occupational Therapy unit for the town.  After six years living in the Bush, she moved, with her husband, to Gosford NSW, and worked as an OT there.  In 1978 son Jamie was born, and it was time to head back to the U.S. where they settled in Puyallup, WA.  Son Jamie (now 43) was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, and from that point on until Pat’s death, Jamie became the focus of all her strength, devotion, and love.  Pat was an inspiring mother, dedicated to the care and support of the special needs community in the Puyallup-Tacoma area.  Pat’s bubbly outgoing personality and her laugh always brought joy to all those who knew her.  She will be greatly missed.

Pat is survived by her son Jamie, brother Randy Doll, sister Mary Chelius, niece Mimi Prendergast, and nephew George Chelius.