Obituary of Sylvia S Gormley

Sylvia Sue Sparks Gormley passed away on Sunday, October 7, 2018 in Indianapolis. She was born on April 8, 1935, to the late Vernon William and Shirley Marie (Hammontree) Sparks in Bolivar Missouri. Sylvia enjoyed 30 years of marriage to the late Dr. Joseph James Gormley.

Sylvia is survived by her daughters, Sherry Gormley Crane of Eau Claire, WI, and Dr. Joanne Gormley (Dr. Mary Pate Wenderoth) of Seattle, WA; son, Dr. Gregg Gormey (Carol) of Evansville; sister, Marilyn S. Parrish (Tim) of Bloomington; brothers, Kenneth W. Sparks (Malissa) of Bloomington, Daniel E. Sparks of Nashville, and Dr. David M. Sparks (Nancy) of Bloomington; granddaughters, Molly Gormley Welch (Kim) of Evansville, Melissa Gormley of Evansville, Chelsea Crane DeMarre (Joe) of Eau Claire, WI, Addy Froehlich (Joe Demers) of Seattle, WA; grandsons, Kevin Crane (Stephanie) of Dayton, MN, Dr. Ryan Crane (Dr. Meredith) of Coronado, CA, and Ed Froehlich (Kathleen) of Seattle, WA; great-grandsons, Cody Richard Crane of Dayton, MI, Charles Gabriel Crane of Coronado, CA, Theodore Demers of Seattle, WA, and Harrison Demers of Seattle WA; nieces and nephews, Malissa Sparks Lux (Ed) of Cincinnati, OH, Stephanie Sparks Jones or Warren, MI, Angela Sparks Philpott (Tim) of Cincinnati, OH, Jennifer Jordan Burns of Indianapolis, IN, Lori Parrish Bostic of Gaston, NC, Amy Parrish Bortoff of Raleigh, NC, Scott Jordan (Mandy) of Wesfield, IN, Betsy Parrish Breedlove (Chris) of Bloomington, IN, Tyler Sparks of Bloomington, IN, Sarah Sparks Alexander (J.C.) of Bloomington, IN, AND Emily Sparks Bettis (Jeremy) of Bloomington, IN. She is also survived by many grand- and great-grand- nieces and nephews, all of whom have been recipients of one (or more!) of Aunt Syl’s hand-knit baby (security) blankets (“blankies”).

Every church needs a Sylvia: someone who plays the piano, sings, directs the bell choir, counts the money, sends cards, visits the sick and home bound, collects and delivers for the food pantry, advocates for the marginalized, and bakes the communion bread. Crooked Creek Baptist Church had our Sylvia.

Every school needs a Sylvia: the valedictorian who leads and inspires others to develop their musical talent, the accomplished organist whose scholarship leads to a Bachelors in Music Education, the teacher who makes up catchy words to classical music so youngsters can remember the titles and composers and builds sets and sews costumes by hand. Bolivar High School, Indiana University, and Indianapolis Public School #67 had our Sylvia.

Every dog needs a Sylvia: someone who cleans up its messes, listens to it bark, lets in sleep in the same bed, believes it is irreplaceable, and forever treasures its memory. Moxie had our Sylvia.              

Every Family needs a Sylvia: loving daughter and attentive helper during  illnesses and aging: devoted wife, administrator of spouse’s medical practice and partner who loves “in sickness and in health”: bossy big sister, role model, “fast dance” teacher, someone who has your back; step-mom – affable, someone who welcomes her husband’s adult children into her life and home; proud grandmother who wishes for happiness and healthy families; a doting aunt who hosts sleep-overs, swimming parties and picnics, and knits treasured baby blankets; in-law who never distinguishes between “born into” and “married into;” the always-there relative who accompanies family members and friends to countless AA meetings, encouraging without enabling and loving them through relapses and sobriety, and who remembers every birthday and other memorable occasion (or no occasion at all) with cards that are never late! The Sparks and the Gormleys had our Sylvia.

The world needs a Sylvia: someone who always shows up – for births and deaths, marriages and divorces, graduations, successes and failures; who climbs a tree with childhood friends to “spy” on square-dancers; who goes with other diehard fans to watch a rained-on Indy 500 three days in a row; who fills walls and shelves of family, friends, and people she barely knows, with counted cross-stitch and ceramics (or whatever her hobby de jour); who, because she survived breast cancer, spreads hope to others who are also stricken; who challenges others to explain their viewpoint, reaches out to mend fences, does not always accept the pat answer, and accepts differences; someone who is totally selfless -- always giving without expectations of receiving in return. Marcia, Suzie, Dale, Delta Gamma, and Tri-Kappa had our Sylvia.