Curtis Denford Sparks, 58, of Oak Ridge died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born June 28, 1957, in Cape Girardeau to Louis Denford and Wanda Lee Stone Sparks. He and Sherri Lynn Fowler were married Oct. 6, 1990, at First General Baptist Church in Jackson.

Curtis graduated from Jackson High School in 1976. He worked for Yamintz Auto Body of Jackson for 15 years.

Curtis joined the Jackson Fire Department on April 1, 1981, and served till July 12, 2013, for a total of 32.27 years. Curtis was a captain with the department at the end of his service. He also was certified as a firefighter 1&2, first responder, child-seat technician, fire investigator, fire inspector, fire officer 1 and member of the Homeland Security Response Team. He was a member of the Cape Girardeau County Firefighters Association.

He is survived by his wife, Sherri Sparks of Oak Ridge; his mother, Wanda Sparks of Jackson; a daughter, Charli Jo Sparks of Oak Ridge; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Louis Denford Sparks.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with a memorial service at 6 p.m., at Ford and Sons Funeral Home-Jackson, with the Rev. Kevin Mann officiating.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Funeral Home-Jackson.

A memorial service, with a final call, will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Kevin Mann officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Charli Jo Sparks Scholarship Fund.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.