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Jackie Carol (Ray) Sparano
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Jackie Carol (Ray) Sparano, 76, died peacefully on Saturday, June 7 in Long Beach.

Jackie was born to Arry Wyat Ray and Cora Elvia Moore in Ada, Okla., the youngest of nine children. She lived most of her life between Oakdale and Santa Clara.

She was married and had two surviving children. At the young age of 34, she became disabled after a stroke and began the next phase of her life living in nursing homes. Although this was not the life she had planned for herself and her children, she continued to have a great sense of humor. She loved her children with all her heart, laughing at all their jokes, very convincingly.

She disliked most vegetables and was a very picky eater. She would make the most awful faces when asked if she wanted to try something she didn’t like.

Mrs. Sparano loved her grandchildren; they gave her a renewed reason to smile. She was kind, caring and had the most infectious laugh. She loved Patsy Cline, Elvis, and I Love Lucy.

She was always amazed at how much things cost after being ‘out of circulation.’ Her nurses were always impressed with her natural lack of wrinkles and having less than 10 grey hairs in her dark brown locks.

She was a beloved sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her daughter, Gina (Richard) Harpham; son, Greg (Rose) Sparano; sister, Mary K. Burkhardt; grandchildren, Casey, Kelly, and Kerry Harpham, and Shamika (Kilburn), Kieauna, Daishia, and Gregory Sparano; and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her child, Charles Jr.

A funeral will be at 10a.m. on Friday, June 13 at Oakdale Memorial Chapel, 830 West F St. A family gathering and reception will follow.