Mary Isidra Reyna Sparkman was born May 20, 1966 in Waxahachie, TX and went to be with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday February 19, 2024 in Dallas, TX. Mary passed away due to complications with pneumonia acquired from the Covid virus.

Mary is proceeded in death by her brother, Peter Reyna and her father, Angel C. Reyna.

She is survived by her husband, Steve Edward Sparkman; her son, Steven Gordon Sparkman; her mother, Isidra F. Reyna; her brother, Johnny Reyna and wife Jeannie; her sister, Angela Gonzalez and husband Jesse; her brother, Roy Reyna and wife Lynne; her brother, Dionisio "Dino" Reyna and wife Tammy; her brother, David Reyna and wife Athena; her sister, Teresa Vitale and husband Ted; her sister, Anna Johnson and husband Scot; her sister, Natalie Walker and husband Tony; and more uncles and aunts, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews than we have space for.

As you all know, Mary was diagnosed with RP in 1994 and as the disease progressed, she needed a tracheostomy in 1997 and tracheal stent in 2000. This did not stop her drive for life, love of God or commitment to family. She was a teacher, devoted full time mom, and helper to anyone who needed it.

Mary loved to cook and bake sweat things. She was an artist; she loved to draw, paint, sew, and work with clay. Mary was always making something to give away or for a special event. Mary loved children and teaching. She would still be teaching today if not for RP. She was the most devoted wife, friend, and lover a man could ever hope for or deserve. Hebrews 13: 1-2 Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Mary was one of those angels.

I will miss your tortillas. No one made them like you. If you knew Mary, you knew that she always had a smile on her face and gave the best hugs despite the 30 years of RP. She was resilient to the end. We all will love and miss you dearly and will gather with you at the feet of Jesus one day.

A celebration of Mary's life will be at 10:00am on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Byrum Funeral Home Chapel in Lancaster, TX. A private interment will take place later at Edgewood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the RP Foundation (relapsing polychondritis) at https://polychondritis.org/ . Please help support others in the fight against RP and other autoimmune diseases.