Claudette Sparks Hand

Claudette Sparks Hand, 82 of Canadian passed away June 5, 2019 in Canadian.

Funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 8, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. David Gerhardt, pastor, and Pastor Donald Hill of The River Ministries, officiating. Burial will follow at the Edith Ford Memorial Cemeteries under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Canadian.

Claudette was born October 2, 1936 near Boone, Nebraska to Elmer E. and Irene Becklam Sparks. When she was nine her family moved to the Texas Panhandle, where she would graduate from Canadian High School in 1953. She worked for a short time at Johnson’s Grocery Store, then donning hat and gloves and accompanied by her father, she got a job working in the office of Bill Jackson, attorney-at-law. Later Claudette began a long and varied career in the world of finance by accepting a job at the First National Bank of Canadian, where she eventually became secretary to its president, H.S. Wilbur.

Claudette married George Hand in 1954. She worked both part-time and full-time jobs while raising her two sons. She was with Bartlett Lumber Co. about 12 years. Subsequently she served as bookkeeper for George Hand’s Texaco Service Station, then as executive secretary for his H&R Trucking Company. Claudette added a 7-yr stint of keeping books for Dick Waterfield, a local commodity broker. When Mr. Waterfield became a state representative, he encouraged her to run for treasurer of Hemphill County. She did and brought her career to a graceful close by serving three terms in that office. Claudette enjoyed keeping the treasury records in good order and tending to her many responsibilities, as well as making friends of her co-workers, Judge Bob Gober said that the courthouse was a different place after she came to work there. She enjoyed retirement, too, sharing with many friends her passion for playing cards and other socializing.

She always found the best in everybody and was a friend to all.

Claudette was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer & Irene Sparks; a sister, Mildred Lippke; and a great-grandson, Parker Loyd Shields.

Survivors include two sons; Scott Hand and wife Teresa of Amarillo and Wayne Hand and wife Beverly of New Braunfels; sister, Carolyn Sparks Welch and husband Jim of McKinney; brother-in-law, Hagen Lippke; six grandchildren, Chelsea Hand Stow and husband Brandon, Aarika Hand Shields and husband Calvin, Jarrett Hand and wife Kassie, Hunter Hand, Drew Anderson, Blake Hand; five great grandchildren, Mali Stow, Ryan Shields, Reese Shields, Michael Hand, and Nathaniel Hand.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box1343, Canadian, TX 79014; Hemphill County Hospice, 1020 S. 4^th, Canadian, TX 79014; or favorite charity.

The family will receive friends and family at Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Home in Canadian on Friday evening, June 7, 2019 from 6:00-7:30 pm.