Sparkman, Dr. Marjorie Frances, 90 of Dade City, FL passed away Sunday, July 21, 2013 at her home. She was born January 25, 1923 at Melrose in McShan, AL to Seth Joshua & Mary Elizabeth McShan Sparkman. She was a Professor and Dean of Nursing at the Florida State University in Tallahassee before her retirement. She is survived by cousins John Tyler McShan III of McShan, AL and his children and Betty McShan Woodard of Tuscaloosa, AL and her children; a nephew, Evans Fallin and his family of Fernandina Beach, FL and 4 nieces, Mary Epperson, Lea Thomas, Diane Sparkman and Linda Stanley and their families, all of Dade City, FL; and special friends, Joanne and Tom Choate, Patricia Martin, Christine Childs, and her loyal canine companion Buddy. She was preceded in death by her brother, Seth "Bubba" Sparkman and sisters Mary Elizabeth Fallin, Dorothy Reethof and Glenna Sparkman. She is a 1945 FSU College for Women alumna with a major in music and a 1947 graduate from the Carver School of Missions and Social Work, where she received a degree in Religious Education. Marjorie began her career in nursing as an instructor at the Southern Baptist Hospital Mather School of Nursing in New Orleans during the 1950's. She left Baptist Hospital to study at the University of Alabama where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1961 before heading to Ohio State University to pursue her Master's in Nursing and her PhD in Physiology. After graduation she worked as an Assistant Professor in the Physiology Department at Ohio State University from 1968 - 1972. In 1972, she went to Florida State University as an Associate Professor, where she taught Anatomy and Physiology to nursing and food and nutrition students on FSU's main campus, and to RN students at the Panama City campus. Dr. Sparkman was beloved by the nursing students and many fondly recall what it was like to be a student in her class. Marge's former students often cite her compassion for them and its positive impact on their experience as a nursing student. During her tenure at the FSU College of Nursing, she was an Assistant Dean of the Nursing Faculty and served as the Interim Dean twice. When she retired in 1988 with the title of Professor Emeritus, she became the fourth person to achieve Emeritus status at the School of Nursing. In 1988, after her retirement, the Dean of the School of Nursing, established the Marjorie F. Sparkman Distinguished Lectureship Series Fund. The purpose of the fund is to bring healthcare experts and outstanding nurse educators to Florida State University for various conferences and lectures. She received many awards throughout her career, including, the Amoco teaching Award (1976), the Provost's Award of Teaching Excellence (1976), Outstanding R.N. student at the University of Alabama (1961) and the Inspiring Teaching Award from the Ohio State University (1972). Graveside services will be held 10am Thursday, July 25, 2013 at the Dade City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7pm Wednesday evening at the 5th Street Chapel of Hodges Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, you can send donations in her memory to either your local Animal Shelter, an Educational Fund or for Research for the Blind.