MIAMI -- Thomas Kendall Sparkman drew his last breath Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

Kendall was born Jan. 30, 1956, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the son of Thomas Carroll Sparkman and Elizabeth "Betty" Sparkman.

Kendall spent his early years in Cape Girardeau and Houston, returning with the family to Cape Girardeau where he attended Alma Schrader, Franklin and Central High School. At Central, he maintained honor roll status and was selected to attend Boys State. During these years, he attended Cape Church of Christ and was baptized there. He was active in youth activities and helped to organize areawide rallies. His youth group traveled on a mission trip to Geneva, Switzerland, using funds raised by recording and selling an album.

Kendall graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business from Saint Louis University and attended University of Miami Law School. He spent his career at Rubin, Baum, Levin, Constant, Friedman and Bilzen in Florida where he orchestrated multi-billion-dollar real estate closings.

Kendall loved his family, especially his younger brother, Randall, and his grandmother, Gertrude Sparkman, with whom he spent many hours. He also loved children and pets, traveling, reading and visiting countless public libraries tracing family ancestry and experienced many rewarding trips, including a visit to Israel.

Survivors include his father and stepmother, Dr. Thomas and Carol Sparkman; mother, Elizabeth Jones; brother and sister-in-law, Randall and Laura Sparkman, and their children, Thomas Sumner and Blake Sparkman. Other survivors include an uncle, Al Jackson; aunts, Barbara Jackson and Mary Sparkman; stepsiblings, Dr. Mark (Angel) Hahn, Tara (Shawn) King and Sheri (Don) Metcalf, as well as multiple cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews and -nieces in the Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Chicago and Doniphan, Missouri, areas.

He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Gertrude and Thomas E. Sparkman; maternal grandparents, Albert and Velma Jackson; stepfather, Rex (Elizabeth) Jones; infant niece, Sage Elizabeth Sparkman; uncles, Glenn Sparkman and Howard Jackson; aunts, Alice Lee, Vera and Verna Sparkman; and first cousins, Greg and John Sparkman.

Visitation will be at noon Friday at Ford and Sons Funeral Home on Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau, with funeral immediately following at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A graveside service and burial will be held for immediate family later in the day at Sparkman Cemetery in Poplar Bluff.

Kendall's family members are grateful for his presence in their lives.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cape Girardeau Public Schools Foundation.

Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan is in charge of arrangements.