Gradie Colene Barham

Funeral services for Colene Barham will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 14, 2023, in the chapel of First Baptist Church in Elk City, with Rev. Russell Duck officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairlawn Cemetery, Elk City, under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. There will be a visitation with family present 5-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Marshall Funeral Home in Alva. Gradie Colene Sparks, daughter of the late Grady Haskell and Eula Ann (Brewer) Sparks, was born October 25, 1935, at Oklahoma City and passed away December 11, 2023, at Alva, at the age of 88 years, 1 month, and 16 days. She was raised in Oklahoma City, graduating from Capitol Hill High School. She then attended a year at Oklahoma Baptist University. On October 11, 1958, she was united in marriage to Clinton Ray Barham at Kentucky Avenue Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. To this union two children were born: Lizabeth and Cullen. They made their home in Elk City where they raised their family. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Elk City until 2013, when she and Clinton transferred their membership to First Baptist Church in Alva. Colene was a true support staff person, completely gifted in office etiquette and welcoming people in. Positions included positions at First National Bank of Elk City, office manager for Elk City Chamber of Commerce, floral and delivery for Hylton Flowers, and church secretary for First Baptist Church, a position she held for 37 years. She ended her career as pastor’s secretary, a position she cherished. Colene was a member of Jaycee Jaynes serving as president, Arimathea, and a Homemakers Group in Elk City and then in Alva. She enjoyed reading, cooking, and working puzzle books. She and Clinton made the move to Alva ten years ago to be near their daughter, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Besides her parents, Grady and Eula, she was preceded in death by Clinton’s parents, Raymond and Calla Barham, her son, Cullen Barham; her brother, Jerry Sparks; her sisters, Mozelle Gillette Lacer and Mary Ellen Coffee; and her son-in-law, Larry Richey. She is survived by her husband, Clinton Barham of Alva; her daughter, Lizabeth Richey of Alva; her brother, Paul Sparks and wife, Linda, of Oklahoma City; three grandchildren, Andrea Crawford and husband, Corey, of Alva, Michelle Newton and husband, Tim, of Alva, and Chad Richey of Watauga, Texas; eleven great grandchildren, Caitlyn Crawford, Chloe Lehr and fiancé, Brickman Bradt, Kennedy Crawford, Cason Crawford, and Charlee Rae Crawford, all of Alva, Elijah Newton, Samuel Newton, Thomas Newton, Isabella Newton, and Ezekiel Newton, all of Alva, and Jaqui Howell of Little Rock, Arkansas; other relatives and friends. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to First Baptist Church Foundation, Elk City, or the Alva Goldbug Education Foundation (checks must be made to CFO-AGEF).

Gradie Colene Barham

October 25, 1935 - December 11, 2023