Barry William Sparks

Barry William Sparks, born on May 11, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri, departed this world on August 19, 2024, in Independence, Missouri. Surrounded by loved ones, Barry's journey came to a gentle close, leaving behind a legacy marked by love, creativity, and unmatched personality.  

Barry graduated in 1964 from Fort Osage High School, before proudly serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War from 1964-1968 on the USS Ranger. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Barry's pursuit of knowledge continued on the GI Bill, earning a bachelor’s in education at Cal State, then completing a master's in English literature from Claremont Graduate University, California. He went on to teach art and English literature in California to middle school and high school students for several years before moving on to have a successful career in construction in both Florida and Missouri, retiring in 2012.  

Barry embraced the world as an opportunity to explore his passions, to gain new insight, to create and to share his experiences, living up to the title of renaissance man. Barry was fascinated by food, art, movies, music, literature, nature and people. On any given day, Barry could be found hand rolling sushi, studying ancient artifacts online, watching a Bogart film, listening to Pavarotti or reading a selection from the Bhagavad Gita under the canopy of his beloved sycamore tree. He appreciated the ability to dress well, rarely leaving home without a bow tie, pocket square, dinner jacket and fedora. Barry was a night owl and frequent middle of the night texts and phone calls between brother Randy or daughters Stacy and Christy brimmed with debate, musings and inevitably a recipe or two. He relished hosting dinner parties, and commanding an audience to recite his poetry, written with “virtue” and wit, all while sipping a Cuba Libre in a Hawaiian shirt and a Panama Jack hat. Barry’s interests were limitless whether it be fishing, world history, making pasta, hunting, fine wine, or Jimmy Buffet. His curiosity for life was infinite. 

Barry shared thirty years of this colorful existence with the love of his life, Kim Green. Together, they made their home in Independence, working, playing, traveling and creating a sanctuary, always open to family and friends. They shared countless hours on their one of a kind deck, built by Barry’s design and hands. Summer days and nights were spent attending the Shakespeare Festival, 4th of July cookouts, stunning fireworks displays, floating in the pool and enjoying meticulously smoked BBQ. The fall was filled with the Renaissance Faire, Chiefs games, costume parties, laughter around the firepit, and Barry’s savory English stews and autumn beers. Winter was filled with more delicious meals and treats, elaborately wrapped gifts, and train sets chugging around the dining room table. Springtime marked the beginning of a new year to tend to the garden, filled with herbs, vegetables and stunning florals, St. Paddy’s Day toasts, planning trips far and near, tooling around local lakes on a pontoon and watching Royals games. They truly had a magical love affair.

In addition to Kim, Barry’s presence will be missed by his children, Stacy (Christy), Joshua (Christine); grandchildren, Lucy, Jesse; siblings, Randy (Karen), Ginger, Gail; mother-in-law Connie; best friends, Gary, Bill, Ken; fur babies, Hans and Franz; extended family and a multitude of friends whose lives he touched with his extraordinary spirit. He is preceded in death by his parents, Howard Lee and Mary Patricia (Brinkman) Sparks and his beloved dogs Sofie and Rocky and a cockatiel named Elvis.