Girlie Sparrow

With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Girlie Sparrow filled her days with the people and things she loved. She worked hard throughout her life in whatever she was doing and was a firm believer in the notion that anything worth doing is worth doing well. Blessed to share much of her life’s journey with her true love, there was nothing that filled Girlie with more joy than being surrounded by her loved ones. She was never one to worry about what she had, rather, her focus was on how she could abundantly give to those around her. Girlie leaves behind a timeless legacy that will be proudly carried on by those who follow in her footsteps.

By the end of WWI in 1918, America was recognized as a world leader and poised for greatness. We did not disappoint as the next decade was the Roaring Twenties when innovation was taking us places we had never been. This was the time when motion pictures came to life in both color and sound and when the lights of Broadway never shined brighter. Jazz music, the Charleston, and baseball legends Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb all colored the cultural fabric of our nation while radios brought the world around us within our reach. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1920 that was filled with great joy for a young couple from Vest, Kentucky, as they were blessed with the birth of a healthy baby girl on April 24th. Girlie was the fifth of seven children born to her parents, Solomon and Fleurinda (Patrick) Fugate, and she was raised in the family home alongside her siblings. Her parents were hard working farmers who modeled a strong work ethic that Girlie adopted as her own throughout her entire life.

When she was 27 years old, Girlie moved with her family to the Orangeville area of Michigan with her mother. She began working at Hybel’s Produce, which proved to be quite fateful as it was there that she met the man of her dreams. His name was Myron “Mike” Sparrow, and he also worked there as a truck driver. He was persistent as he kept asking her out, but it wasn’t until someone put Girlie on the top of the conveyor belt and wouldn’t let her down until she agreed that she finally said yes. They soon began dating and quickly found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Girlie and Mike were united in marriage. Together they welcomed two children, Linda and Dan, into their hearts and home. Later in life her family grew to include three grandsons, Cory, Troy, and Myron, and Girlie couldn’t have been happier. More recently, her family also expanded to include eight great-grandchildren.

Throughout her life Girlie was a woman of many interests. Her skills in the kitchen were unmatched, which was something that her family very much appreciated. Among their favorites were her fried chicken and cornbread. Since she loved spending time out in her flower and vegetable gardens, Girlie’s meals always included vegetables of some kind whether fresh or canned from her yield. An active part of her grandchildren’s lives, she just loved taking them camping as often as she could. When relaxing, Girlie enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, and doing needlepoint. Her favorite color was pink, and when it came to music she was a fan of country music with Alan Jackson's “Little Bitty” being her favorite song.

All who knew Girlie Sparrow would agree that she was an extraordinary woman to know and love. There was no one who met her and wasn’t blessed, and with her warm, approachable, and genuine demeanor she had a way of making others feel at ease. Girlie was known for being helpful and was caring towards others, and as someone who was content in whatever life brought she was passive in everything as well. Deeply loved, she will never be forgotten.

Girlie Sparrow, of Orangeville, died on Sunday, December 21, 2014. Girlie’s family includes her children: Linda (Chris) McCormick, of Surprise, AZ; Dan (Tricia) Sparrow, of Orangeville; three grandsons: Cory, Troy, and Myron; 8 great grandchildren; one brother: Arnett Fugate, of NY. Girlie was preceded in death by her husband, Myron “Mike” Sparrow. The family will receive friends on Saturday, from 10-11 a.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, 120 S. Woodhams, Plainwell, (269-685-5881). A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 11a.m. at the same location with Reverend Jack Fugate officiating. Burial of her ashes will be held at Oakhill Cemetery in Orangeville. Please visit Girlie’s webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign her guestbook, leave a memory and/or share a photo. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Great Lakes Hospice, American Cancer Society, and/or American Diabetes Association.