Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Chapel of the Eggen & Lance Mortuary for John Clayton Sparrow, 3, who died Thursday in a Santa Rosa hospital of injuries suffered June 23 when hit by an automobile.
The youth was the son of Mr. and Mrs. N. O. Sparrow, and brother of Rita, Larry, Neil, Lloyd, Thomas and newborn baby girl, Patricia Sparrow, all of Santa Rosa.
He was also the grandson of Newport Sparrow, Logansport, LA, and Mr. and Mrs. Inman, Santa Rosa.
The Rev. Gilbert Johnson, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate at the services.
Burial will be at Santa Rosa Memorial Park.
Note: The following written by Me, Rita Sparrow the oldest Sparrow Sibling... We didn't go to Johnny's burial but Daddy had taken us to see our little Brother at the funeral home.
I remember that Johnny was dressed like a little English school boy with the cute little cap and short pants. I remember Johnny's little hands, his thumbs were tucked into his clenched fists.
Our Mom passed on Johnny's birthday March 26th 2013. I'm sure our little brother, Mom's precious little boy came to help her to heaven.
The only photo of Johnny is the one I posted on here. I cropped it from the group photo I have of all the Sparrow children taken in 1961/1962 right before Johnny was killed. The photo is so brittle it ripped across my head when I picked it up one day.
Strange thing was Mom got single photos of each child in the mail after Johnny passed, but not Johnny's, the photo of just him alone never came.
When Mom told me she was going to have another baby in 1961 I started praying for a baby Sister. My prayer was, Dear Jesus, I have too many little Brothers, (five) please send me a little Sister this time.
My first baby Sister Patricia was born, on June 13th 1962.
I didn't know but Johnny was following me out by the road on West College Avenue in Santa Rosa California on June 23rd and was struck by a big black car.
I remember the driver waved to me and then slammed on his brakes and I turned into the sunset and saw the most horrific sight. I went into shock at that point and don't remember anything else except blood coming from a little boy's ear.
Johnny was taken to the County Hospital in Santa Rosa after the accident.
Eventually Mom and Dad took Johnny from the Sonoma County, Santa Rosa Hospital and moved him themselves to Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa, after a few days. Daddy worked there at the time and he wanted to have Johnny close to him.
I remember being in the car, we were all together one last time that day.
Johnny was in really bad shape but he had the strength to turn his damaged and bruised head and face towards all us kids standing behind the front seats, when he saw us all looking at him he smiled that big beautiful smile at us. I will never forget that.
Another strange thing, "Johnny Angel" was a big hit in 1962, sung by Shelly Fabares, from one of my favorite shows, The Donna Reed Show.
We lived on Moorland Avenue in 1962 when Johnny was killed and in 1968 we moved onto Moorland Avenue again when the second tragedy happened in 1970.
That tragedy happened right after Mom signed for me to marry my Son's Father, Larry Pickering Sr. our Dad was out of town, so I was married without his permission.
I believe my Dad suffered from PTSD and would act out badly every anniversary of Johnny's death. Our Dad rarely drank at home, he was a binge drinker and did act out badly especially when drunk.
After Mom died, I had a dream that she called me. I was so happy to hear from her. She started crying when she told me Johnny died and I started crying too as that was the saddest, worst thing that ever happened to us.
Johnny was a very loving happy and active little boy. About a year before he was killed, a ladder fell onto one of his legs. Somehow it was so damaged that it stopped growing the same way his other leg grew. He had to wear a leg brace that had a big shoe attached. When he felt slowed down by the brace he would get a fork and pry open the laces of the brace and shoe so he could be free of the extra weight :)
Just a few Unexplainable happenings and memories I feel like sharing connected to Johnny's life and death.
The youth was the son of Mr. and Mrs. N. O. Sparrow, and brother of Rita, Larry, Neil, Lloyd, Thomas and newborn baby girl, Patricia Sparrow, all of Santa Rosa.
He was also the grandson of Newport Sparrow, Logansport, LA, and Mr. and Mrs. Inman, Santa Rosa.
The Rev. Gilbert Johnson, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate at the services.
Burial will be at Santa Rosa Memorial Park.
Note: The following written by Me, Rita Sparrow the oldest Sparrow Sibling... We didn't go to Johnny's burial but Daddy had taken us to see our little Brother at the funeral home.
I remember that Johnny was dressed like a little English school boy with the cute little cap and short pants. I remember Johnny's little hands, his thumbs were tucked into his clenched fists.
Our Mom passed on Johnny's birthday March 26th 2013. I'm sure our little brother, Mom's precious little boy came to help her to heaven.
The only photo of Johnny is the one I posted on here. I cropped it from the group photo I have of all the Sparrow children taken in 1961/1962 right before Johnny was killed. The photo is so brittle it ripped across my head when I picked it up one day.
Strange thing was Mom got single photos of each child in the mail after Johnny passed, but not Johnny's, the photo of just him alone never came.
When Mom told me she was going to have another baby in 1961 I started praying for a baby Sister. My prayer was, Dear Jesus, I have too many little Brothers, (five) please send me a little Sister this time.
My first baby Sister Patricia was born, on June 13th 1962.
I didn't know but Johnny was following me out by the road on West College Avenue in Santa Rosa California on June 23rd and was struck by a big black car.
I remember the driver waved to me and then slammed on his brakes and I turned into the sunset and saw the most horrific sight. I went into shock at that point and don't remember anything else except blood coming from a little boy's ear.
Johnny was taken to the County Hospital in Santa Rosa after the accident.
Eventually Mom and Dad took Johnny from the Sonoma County, Santa Rosa Hospital and moved him themselves to Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa, after a few days. Daddy worked there at the time and he wanted to have Johnny close to him.
I remember being in the car, we were all together one last time that day.
Johnny was in really bad shape but he had the strength to turn his damaged and bruised head and face towards all us kids standing behind the front seats, when he saw us all looking at him he smiled that big beautiful smile at us. I will never forget that.
Another strange thing, "Johnny Angel" was a big hit in 1962, sung by Shelly Fabares, from one of my favorite shows, The Donna Reed Show.
We lived on Moorland Avenue in 1962 when Johnny was killed and in 1968 we moved onto Moorland Avenue again when the second tragedy happened in 1970.
That tragedy happened right after Mom signed for me to marry my Son's Father, Larry Pickering Sr. our Dad was out of town, so I was married without his permission.
I believe my Dad suffered from PTSD and would act out badly every anniversary of Johnny's death. Our Dad rarely drank at home, he was a binge drinker and did act out badly especially when drunk.
After Mom died, I had a dream that she called me. I was so happy to hear from her. She started crying when she told me Johnny died and I started crying too as that was the saddest, worst thing that ever happened to us.
Johnny was a very loving happy and active little boy. About a year before he was killed, a ladder fell onto one of his legs. Somehow it was so damaged that it stopped growing the same way his other leg grew. He had to wear a leg brace that had a big shoe attached. When he felt slowed down by the brace he would get a fork and pry open the laces of the brace and shoe so he could be free of the extra weight :)
Just a few Unexplainable happenings and memories I feel like sharing connected to Johnny's life and death.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Chapel of the Eggen & Lance Mortuary for John Clayton Sparrow, 3, who died Thursday in a Santa Rosa hospital of injuries suffered June 23 when hit by an automobile.
The youth was the son of Mr. and Mrs. N. O. Sparrow, and brother of Rita, Larry, Neil, Lloyd, Thomas and newborn baby girl, Patricia Sparrow, all of Santa Rosa.
He was also the grandson of Newport Sparrow, Logansport, LA, and Mr. and Mrs. Inman, Santa Rosa.
The Rev. Gilbert Johnson, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate at the services.
Burial will be at Santa Rosa Memorial Park.
Note: The following written by Me, Rita Sparrow the oldest Sparrow Sibling... We didn't go to Johnny's burial but Daddy had taken us to see our little Brother at the funeral home.
I remember that Johnny was dressed like a little English school boy with the cute little cap and short pants. I remember Johnny's little hands, his thumbs were tucked into his clenched fists.
Our Mom passed on Johnny's birthday March 26th 2013. I'm sure our little brother, Mom's precious little boy came to help her to heaven.
The only photo of Johnny is the one I posted on here. I cropped it from the group photo I have of all the Sparrow children taken in 1961/1962 right before Johnny was killed. The photo is so brittle it ripped across my head when I picked it up one day.
Strange thing was Mom got single photos of each child in the mail after Johnny passed, but not Johnny's, the photo of just him alone never came.
When Mom told me she was going to have another baby in 1961 I started praying for a baby Sister. My prayer was, Dear Jesus, I have too many little Brothers, (five) please send me a little Sister this time.
My first baby Sister Patricia was born, on June 13th 1962.
I didn't know but Johnny was following me out by the road on West College Avenue in Santa Rosa California on June 23rd and was struck by a big black car.
I remember the driver waved to me and then slammed on his brakes and I turned into the sunset and saw the most horrific sight. I went into shock at that point and don't remember anything else except blood coming from a little boy's ear.
Johnny was taken to the County Hospital in Santa Rosa after the accident.
Eventually Mom and Dad took Johnny from the Sonoma County, Santa Rosa Hospital and moved him themselves to Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa, after a few days. Daddy worked there at the time and he wanted to have Johnny close to him.
I remember being in the car, we were all together one last time that day.
Johnny was in really bad shape but he had the strength to turn his damaged and bruised head and face towards all us kids standing behind the front seats, when he saw us all looking at him he smiled that big beautiful smile at us. I will never forget that.
Another strange thing, "Johnny Angel" was a big hit in 1962, sung by Shelly Fabares, from one of my favorite shows, The Donna Reed Show.
We lived on Moorland Avenue in 1962 when Johnny was killed and in 1968 we moved onto Moorland Avenue again when the second tragedy happened in 1970.
That tragedy happened right after Mom signed for me to marry my Son's Father, Larry Pickering Sr. our Dad was out of town, so I was married without his permission.
I believe my Dad suffered from PTSD and would act out badly every anniversary of Johnny's death. Our Dad rarely drank at home, he was a binge drinker and did act out badly especially when drunk.
After Mom died, I had a dream that she called me. I was so happy to hear from her. She started crying when she told me Johnny died and I started crying too as that was the saddest, worst thing that ever happened to us.
Johnny was a very loving happy and active little boy. About a year before he was killed, a ladder fell onto one of his legs. Somehow it was so damaged that it stopped growing the same way his other leg grew. He had to wear a leg brace that had a big shoe attached. When he felt slowed down by the brace he would get a fork and pry open the laces of the brace and shoe so he could be free of the extra weight :)
Just a few Unexplainable happenings and memories I feel like sharing connected to Johnny's life and death.
The youth was the son of Mr. and Mrs. N. O. Sparrow, and brother of Rita, Larry, Neil, Lloyd, Thomas and newborn baby girl, Patricia Sparrow, all of Santa Rosa.
He was also the grandson of Newport Sparrow, Logansport, LA, and Mr. and Mrs. Inman, Santa Rosa.
The Rev. Gilbert Johnson, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate at the services.
Burial will be at Santa Rosa Memorial Park.
Note: The following written by Me, Rita Sparrow the oldest Sparrow Sibling... We didn't go to Johnny's burial but Daddy had taken us to see our little Brother at the funeral home.
I remember that Johnny was dressed like a little English school boy with the cute little cap and short pants. I remember Johnny's little hands, his thumbs were tucked into his clenched fists.
Our Mom passed on Johnny's birthday March 26th 2013. I'm sure our little brother, Mom's precious little boy came to help her to heaven.
The only photo of Johnny is the one I posted on here. I cropped it from the group photo I have of all the Sparrow children taken in 1961/1962 right before Johnny was killed. The photo is so brittle it ripped across my head when I picked it up one day.
Strange thing was Mom got single photos of each child in the mail after Johnny passed, but not Johnny's, the photo of just him alone never came.
When Mom told me she was going to have another baby in 1961 I started praying for a baby Sister. My prayer was, Dear Jesus, I have too many little Brothers, (five) please send me a little Sister this time.
My first baby Sister Patricia was born, on June 13th 1962.
I didn't know but Johnny was following me out by the road on West College Avenue in Santa Rosa California on June 23rd and was struck by a big black car.
I remember the driver waved to me and then slammed on his brakes and I turned into the sunset and saw the most horrific sight. I went into shock at that point and don't remember anything else except blood coming from a little boy's ear.
Johnny was taken to the County Hospital in Santa Rosa after the accident.
Eventually Mom and Dad took Johnny from the Sonoma County, Santa Rosa Hospital and moved him themselves to Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa, after a few days. Daddy worked there at the time and he wanted to have Johnny close to him.
I remember being in the car, we were all together one last time that day.
Johnny was in really bad shape but he had the strength to turn his damaged and bruised head and face towards all us kids standing behind the front seats, when he saw us all looking at him he smiled that big beautiful smile at us. I will never forget that.
Another strange thing, "Johnny Angel" was a big hit in 1962, sung by Shelly Fabares, from one of my favorite shows, The Donna Reed Show.
We lived on Moorland Avenue in 1962 when Johnny was killed and in 1968 we moved onto Moorland Avenue again when the second tragedy happened in 1970.
That tragedy happened right after Mom signed for me to marry my Son's Father, Larry Pickering Sr. our Dad was out of town, so I was married without his permission.
I believe my Dad suffered from PTSD and would act out badly every anniversary of Johnny's death. Our Dad rarely drank at home, he was a binge drinker and did act out badly especially when drunk.
After Mom died, I had a dream that she called me. I was so happy to hear from her. She started crying when she told me Johnny died and I started crying too as that was the saddest, worst thing that ever happened to us.
Johnny was a very loving happy and active little boy. About a year before he was killed, a ladder fell onto one of his legs. Somehow it was so damaged that it stopped growing the same way his other leg grew. He had to wear a leg brace that had a big shoe attached. When he felt slowed down by the brace he would get a fork and pry open the laces of the brace and shoe so he could be free of the extra weight :)
Just a few Unexplainable happenings and memories I feel like sharing connected to Johnny's life and death.
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