Tammy Sparks
Tammy Kaler Sparks, 66, of Union City passed away Saturday, July 5, 2025.
Tammy was born in Murray, Ky., Dec. 11, 1958, to Shirley and the late Lt. Col. William R Kaler. She married Art Sparks Aug. 17, 1980. She was the proud mother and mother-in-law to Jeni Beth and Josh and Emily Anne. Her most favorite title of all was Mamie to Logan and Allie. She also loved her puppies Millie, Lucy and Izzy
Tammy was a 1977 graduate of Union City High School and attended the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Tammy, also known as Mrs. Sparks to thousands of Union City High School kids and teachers, worked in the Union City School System for nearly 40 years. She started as an Educational Assistant in the Special Education department. She later moved to the high school’s front office as the Athletic Secretary. She supported every athlete and athletic program with her purple and gold on at just about every sporting event. This school spirit she gave to all these sports stemmed from her being the first mascot of Union City High School, Teri the Tornado.
In 2019, Tammy became a co-executive director of the Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant with her daughters. She impacted the lives of young women across the state of Tennessee as well as her MTV family. She loved to cruise and attend fair conventions with her friends and would spend the weekends with her lake family at Kentucky Lake. More than anything, she loved to be with her family and watch her grandchildren play sports!
Tammy was a member of the Philian Review Club, Union City Women’s Club, Birthday Girls Club, Little Yellow House Class of ’77 Group and First Methodist Church.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at First Methodist Church in Union City, with Bro. Roger Shock, Richard Dickerson and John Easley officiating. Burial will follow in East View Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 8, 2025, from 4-9 p.m. and Wednesday, July 9, 2025, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. all at the church. Pallbearers include Logan and Josh Vincent, Al Creswell, Phillip Creswell, Tim Doyle, Joe Bill Fridy, Denver Johnson and Bob Regen. Honorary pallbearers include past and present teachers staff and coaches of Union City High School and Central Office.
White-Ranson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Tammy is survived by her husband, Art Sparks; her two daughters and one son-in-law, Jeni Beth and Josh Vincent and Emily Anne Sparks; her two grandchildren, Logan and Allie Vincent; her mother, Shirley Kaler; her brother, Billy Kaler; her sister, Amy Bobo; her nephew, Kaler Bobo; and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Cynthia and Jack Allen.
She was preceded in death by her father, Lt. Col. William R Kaler (Billy Bob).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Organization (online at https://tinyurl.com/4kc5382m OR Checks made to Community Foundation of West Tennessee c/o MTV Scholarship Fund (In Memory of Tammy Sparks), 74 Directors Row, Jackson, TN 38305); the Union City School Foundation Inc., UC – Athletics (408 South Depot St., Union City, TN 38261); or a charity of your choice.
The Messenger 7.7.25