Sheila Jo Sprague
**Died August 16th at Sunrise Assisted Living in Webster Groves, MO after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia.
**Born August 17th, 1945 in Cuba, Missouri, to William and Ruth Sprague, Sheila was the much loved sister of, and is survived by, Michael Sprague (Linda), Seattle, WA, Patrick Sprague (Sandie), Bettendorf, IA and David Sprague (Teri), Fairview Heights, IL. In addition, many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends share in the loss.
**After living in Cuba for years, the family moved to St. Louis and Sheila graduated from Southwest High School. She then graduated from Southwest Missouri State with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and completed a Masters in Social Work at the University of Missouri in Kansas City and St. Louis.
**Sheila worked in the field of Social Work for years and also in career counseling. Then, she progressed in Human Resource positions with McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, before retiring as an HR executive with Boeing, based in St. Louis.
**To know Sheila was to know fun. She enjoyed life, laughter, music, crossword puzzles, people and her Lord. This was so obvious, whether it was family gatherings, work, collections of friends or just about anything else. Upon hearing of her death, a nephew quickly said, “I immediately thought of sitting around a campfire and singing songs like “Froggy Went A’Courtin’” as Aunt Sheila played her guitar.”
**The hated disease that took our loved one diminished much of her normally bright and happy thinking. But, three days before her death, there was this wonderful moment mixed into mostly tough times. She was fairly unresponsive in this and all other visits. But after having a Bible verse read to her about followers of Jesus being with Him in Heaven, she was reminded, “That is you, Sheila.” Her voice became strong and vibrant for the last time as she remembered and responded, “YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!”
**Sheila’s journey on Earth is complete, and the rest of her life is free of sadness, disease, tears and anything else negative. She leaves a sweet legacy and enters an unimaginable future.
As Sheila requested, there will be no public service.
We’ve missed you for years at church Sheila! We will see you with him!
I am among many who were privileged to know Sheila and call her my friend. We met when we each began working in the Kansas City Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in October 1978. Sheila attracted people, and many times they were strangers, who felt they could unburden themselves to her. Sheila had a wicked sense of humor. When our then boss at OCR, Sheila enlisted me as her partner in crime to decorate his office one Saturday morning with balloons, streamers with a large poster saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going – to Dallas.” We stayed in touch over these many years when she left to work for McDonnell Douglas and then Boeing. I am a better person for knowing Sheila and I already miss her.
My deepest sympathies to Sheila’s family and friends. It was an honor to have her here and assist her in any way I could. May she Rest In Peace and her loved ones find comfort knowing she is their guardian angel now.
Sandy Day, Philadelphia sends her condolences. I am heartbroken. Sheila was a dear friend of my mother, Lucille Schwesig and of me, especially after my mother’s passing. I don’t think I have ever met anyone more kind than Sheila. I know she is in a very good place now, hopefully with her mom and my mom having a glass of wine together. Rest in peace, Sheila!