Spence J. "Jim" Sparks

Spence James “Jim” Sparks, 78, of Cheyenne, passed away on February 20, 2026, at Davis Hospice Center after battling leukemia for 3-1/2 years. His loving family was by his side. Jim was born on July 21, 1947, in Alvin, TX to Zelma Verdell Spence and James Junior Sparks. He was the youngest of three children, with two older sisters Mary and Linda. He grew up in Alvin, Texas and graduated from Alvin High School. He then attended the University of Houston where he graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics. Jim played tuba and was involved in the marching band, where he met the love of his life, Yvette Riecke.

Jim began his career right out of college as a field engineer with Schlumberger Oil Services. Jim and Yvette were married on January 3, 1970. Jim then enlisted in the Army where his first assignment was at Fort Sam Houston in the 4th Army Band. After one year of service in San Antonio, Jim was levied to Furth/Nuremburg, Germany where the couple lived for 10 months. Jim and Yvette returned to the United States where Jim resumed his job with Schlumberger in Corpus Christi. Jim was then transferred to Fort Morgan, CO where their twin daughters, Gayle and Jennifer, were born. After seven years in Colorado, Jim was transferred to Williston, ND for 2-1/2 years. Schlumberger then took the family to Gillette, WY where they lived for 26 years. In Gillette, Jim was employed by Schlumberger, BLM, and WESCO Electrical Supply Company. It was there in Gillette that Jim and Yvette started their own family business, Yvette Sparks Dance Center. Even though the business had Yvette’s name on it, Jim was the silent partner of the business – he did the bookkeeping, payroll, inventory, and taxes. He also built props, ran the sound booth, worked backstage at the dance recitals, and learned how to fit dance shoes for tiny feet. After 24 years of running their business, Jim and Yvette retired in 2007 and moved to Cheyenne, WY to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren.

Jim loved music and was involved in many musical organizations throughout his life. He played the tuba and sang second bass. Jim played the tuba in the Powder River Symphony in Gillette, WY. He was involved in the city bands in Fort Morgan, Williston, Gillette, and Cheyenne, and he played in many small ensembles around the community and at church. He also participated in LCCC Wind Ensemble and our favorite - Tuba Christmas. Jim sang with the Gillette Chamber Singers and the church choirs wherever he lived, with most of his time spent singing at the First United Methodist Churches in Gillette and Cheyenne. He also sang in the LCCC Collegiate Chorale.

Jim loved coffee breaks, mowing the lawn with a “cool one”, fishing, feeding the birds, watching sunrises and the horses from his back deck, monitoring the weather, fixing things and talking sports with his sons-in-law, stargazing, grilling, going on walks, and traveling to Deadwood, SD and Black Hawk, CO.

Jim loved spending time with his family. They liked to have family dinners, play Uno and Scrabble, drink coffee, share daily texts, have backyard parties, and go out to eat. He enjoyed spending time with his four grandkids - watching countless dance recitals, Tae Kwon Do tests, band concerts, school programs, and orchestra concerts. Jim was blessed to live close enough to his grandchildren to spend time with them and be a part of their daily lives.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Yvette, and his twin daughters and their families: Jennifer (Rich) Trujillo of Cheyenne, Gayle (Chris) Rhoads of Casper, and his four grandchildren - Jeremy, Rebecca, Gabriel, and Elizabeth. He is also survived by his sister Mary Young, of Pearland, Texas, his stepmother Lorraine Sparks and his half-brothers James (Suzanne) Sparks, Jonathan Sparks, and Richard (Tiffany) Sparks, all of Texas, and many nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his mother and father, and his sister Linda Stuckey.

Jim was proud to be a veteran and serve our country. He was a kind and selfless man who always put others first. He will be missed every day by his family and friends. When you have a cup of coffee or a “cool one” after mowing the lawn on a hot summer day, remember Jim. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, staff, and volunteers at the VA Hospital in Cheyenne, Anschutz Medical Center, and Davis Hospice Center.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the VA Hospital in Cheyenne or the American Cancer Society.