Alice Keymer
(23 May 1888 - 19 March 1973)
Alice was born in Auckland on 23 May 1888. At the time the Keymer family lived at 25 Ponsonby Road, in Auckland (on the right hand side, just down a bit from Karangahape Road), then moved to Chamberlain Street around 1905/06, and then later, around 1911, to Birkdale Road, Birkenhead, Auckland.
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| The Keymer family. 1889. Photographer.unknown. (Photo courtesy of Keymer Family Tree) |
Schooling
On 5 February 1894, Alice was enrolled at Richmond Road School, Ponsonby, by her father. The school register noted that the family were living on Brown Street. The register notes that Alice was previously at the Beresford Street School.
On 5 February 1894, Alice was enrolled at Richmond Road School, Ponsonby, by her father. The school register noted that the family were living on Brown Street. The register notes that Alice was previously at the Beresford Street School.
It appears that at a later date Alice was withdrawn from Richmond Road School and was returned to Beresford Street School where she completed her Standard III year. The Beresford Street School was a double story building and contained two large playgrounds where boys and girls played separately from each other.
Alice returned to Richmond Road School on 7 August 1899. She passed the requirements for Standard IV there and left the school on 18 December 1901. The register notes that she was planning on going to a private school. This however, was short-lived, as Alice was again re-enrolled at Richmond Road School on 25 August 1902. She had spent the first half of the year at Newton West School.
When Alice finished school for good on 19 December 1902, she had completed Standard IV. She left for 'home' according to the school register.
Marriage
Alice married Frederick Athol Sparks (known as Athol) (21 July 1885 - 18 February 1951) on 25 October 1915 at her family home on Grange Road, Mt Eden. They were married by Reverend H A Sharp.
Athol and Alice had two sons:
On May 29 1936, Alice's mother, Mary Keymer, passed away at her home in Opaheke. Her funeral was held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby on the following Sunday afternoon. She was buried at the Purewa Cemetery.
On 3 September 1937, Athol had an accident while at work. The incident was reported in The New Zealand Herald as follows:
Athol died in 1951 aged 65. The following death notice was placed in The Australasian Record, 9 May 1951, p7:
SPARKS - On February 18, 1951, Mr. Frederick Athol Sparks of Auckland passed quietly and peacefully to rest, at the age of sixty-four. A large number of relatives and friends gathered to pay him their last respects, as he was laid to rest in the Waikaraka Lawn Cemetery, Auckland. He leaves his wife, and two sons, Raymond and Allan, to feel the loss. Our sympathy goes out to them with a prayer upon our lips that the Lord will sustain and comfort them in their hour of trial. A. G. Judge.
Athol's grave at the Waikaraka Cemetery can be found in Area 5, Block A, Plot 809.
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The Keymer family, 1904.
Seated back from left: Bertha (or could be Edith), Edith (or could be Bertha), Alice
Seated middle from left: Eliza, Louie, Laura, William Snr, Mary, Ada, William Jnr
Front, from left: George, Hector, Dorothy
Unknown photographer.
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)
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Marriage
Alice married Frederick Athol Sparks (known as Athol) (21 July 1885 - 18 February 1951) on 25 October 1915 at her family home on Grange Road, Mt Eden. They were married by Reverend H A Sharp.
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| The wedding of F. Athol Sparks and Alice Keymer, 25 October 1915. Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of E Donaldson) |
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| Athol Sparks and Alice Keymer on their wedding day, 16 October 1915. Photographer unknown |
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| Athol Sparks riding the bread delivery cart. Photographer and date unknown |
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- Raymond (Ray) Athol Sparks (18 July 1919 - 23 Aug 1974)
- Alan Theodore Sparks (26 Feb 1924 - 1 Aug 2012)
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| Alan and Raymond Sparks Photographer and date unknown, but c1925. |
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The Keymer sisters in the early 1920s
Standing from left: Laura, Alice, Ada
Seated from left: Dorothy, Bertha (or Edith), Eliza, Edith (or Bertha), Louie
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of E Donaldson)
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| The Sparks family c1920s Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of G J Bland) |
On May 29 1936, Alice's mother, Mary Keymer, passed away at her home in Opaheke. Her funeral was held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby on the following Sunday afternoon. She was buried at the Purewa Cemetery.
On 3 September 1937, Athol had an accident while at work. The incident was reported in The New Zealand Herald as follows:
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| The Keymer siblings in 1939, possibly at the occasion of William Jnr's second marriage. Standing from left: Dorothy, Bertha, Laura, Alice, Edith, Ada, Louie, Lilah Seated from left: William Jnr, unknown, Hector Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of E Donaldson)
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SPARKS - On February 18, 1951, Mr. Frederick Athol Sparks of Auckland passed quietly and peacefully to rest, at the age of sixty-four. A large number of relatives and friends gathered to pay him their last respects, as he was laid to rest in the Waikaraka Lawn Cemetery, Auckland. He leaves his wife, and two sons, Raymond and Allan, to feel the loss. Our sympathy goes out to them with a prayer upon our lips that the Lord will sustain and comfort them in their hour of trial. A. G. Judge.
Athol's grave at the Waikaraka Cemetery can be found in Area 5, Block A, Plot 809.
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| Alice with her grandchildren, Gary and Carolyn. Photo taken around 1970. Photographer unknown. |
Alice passed away on 19 March 1973. She was 84. Her death notice appeared in The Australasian Record 23 April 1973 p14, as follows:
SPARKS - Alice Sparks passed to her rest in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 19, 1973, at the age of eighty-fours years. Sister Sparks received the message under the ministry of Pastor A. G. Daniells, and was a foundation member of the Ponsonby church. Her quiet Christian life was a testimony to her love for her Lord and Saviour. To her two sons, Ray and Allen, and their families, together with her relatives and friends, words of comfort and assurance were given, and we laid her to rest to await the call on the resurrection morning in the Waikaraka Cemetery. Pastor R. P. Brown assisted the writer in the services. F. E. Baker.
Alice was buried at the Waikaraka Cemetery, Auckland, with her husband (Area 5, Block A, Plot 809).
The children of Athol and Alice Sparks
SPARKS - Alice Sparks passed to her rest in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 19, 1973, at the age of eighty-fours years. Sister Sparks received the message under the ministry of Pastor A. G. Daniells, and was a foundation member of the Ponsonby church. Her quiet Christian life was a testimony to her love for her Lord and Saviour. To her two sons, Ray and Allen, and their families, together with her relatives and friends, words of comfort and assurance were given, and we laid her to rest to await the call on the resurrection morning in the Waikaraka Cemetery. Pastor R. P. Brown assisted the writer in the services. F. E. Baker.
Alice was buried at the Waikaraka Cemetery, Auckland, with her husband (Area 5, Block A, Plot 809).
The children of Athol and Alice Sparks
Athol and Alice Sparks had two sons:
- Raymond (Ray) Athol Sparks (18 July 1919 - 23 Aug 1974)
- Allan Theodore Sparks (26 Feb 1924 - 1 Aug 2012)
Here is some information about the boys:
Raymond (Ray) Athol Sparks
(18 July 1919 - 23 August 1974)
- Ray married Ivy Nora Liggett (22 February 1922 - 27 July 2014) who was known as Nora, on 2 June 1943. [It is interesting to note that Ray and Nora were related through marriage. Nora's maternal uncle, James Archibald had married Ray's maternal aunt, Louie Keymer.]
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| The wedding of Ray Sparks and Nora Liggett, 2 June 1943. Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of S Ringrose) |
- Ray and Nora lived on a farm in Henderson Valley, Auckland. They had three daughters:
- B N Sparks (still living)
- J A Sparks (still living)
- Raewyn Adelaide Sparks (6 January 1955 - 15 May 1977)
- Ray died aged 55 after being ill for almost one year. Nora had been patiently nursing him at the family home for at least eight months before his death. His funeral service was held at the Avondale Seventh-day Adventist Church (was at 122 Blockhouse Bay Road, Avondale). The church was packed for the service. Ray was buried at the Waikumete Cemetery, Protestant Berm A Row 16, Plot 110. The following death notice was printed in The Australasian Record, 4 November 1974, p15:
- Ray and Nora's youngest daughter, Raewyn Adelaide and her fiance Eddie Oaklands died in a plane crash on 15 May 1977 while attending a church camp in South Australia. According to cemetery records, Raewyn was a lab assistant. The bodies of both Raewyn and Eddier were cremated in Australia and their ashes were brought to New Zealand where they were buried in the family plot at Waikumete Cemetery. The story of accident that claimed their lives can be found here. A joint death notice was printed in The Australasian Record, 8 August 1977, as follows:
OAKLANDS and SPARKS. The Seventh-day Adventist community in New Zealand were shocked and saddened when they heard of the tragic accident on May 15, 1977, when the aircraft in which Eddie Oaklands and Raewyn Sparks were travelling, crashed on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. These two young people had just announced their engagement. Eddie was born in Adelaide on Christmas Day, 1945, and was the son of the late Brother and Sister F. E. Oaklands formerly of Adelaide. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. M. Manners, of Warragul, Victoria, and the Oaklands family in New Zealand, cousins of his, to mourn his passing. He attended the Seventh-day Adventist school in Prospect, South Australia, and later became a commercial artist. Raewyn Sparks was born on January 6, 1955, in Auckland, New Zealand, and was the youngest daughter of Nora and the late Raymond Sparks. She loved her parents, and was a great help to her widowed mother, being most dependable and thoughtful. She trained as a laboratory assistant. She received all her education in our church schools here in New Zealand. Raewyn has two sisters, Mrs. Beverly Barnett of Palmerston North and Mrs. Joy McCutcheon of Victoria, who will miss this cheerful soul. For these two dear young people a memorial service was held on May 23 at the Avondale church, New Zealand, which was packed for the occasion. At the memorial service we were once again directed to the blessed hope of those who die in the Lord. As the remains of these two dear folk arrived, they were placed in the grave where Brother Sparks sleeps in the Waikumete Cemetery, awaiting the resurrection morning. K. D. L. Brook.
- Nora remarried in her later years. Her second husband was Ben Griffin (dates unknown).
- Nora passed away on 27 July 2014, aged 92. She is also buried in the Sparks family plot at Waikumete Cemetery (Protestant Berm A Row 16, Plot 110).
Allan Theodore Sparks
- Allan was born in Auckland in 1926.
- He married Thelma Hazel Stone (29 Mar 1927 - 15 Apr 2019) in Auckland on 28 March 1951. Thelma already had a young daughter when they married, and together they had another daughter and a son:
- Denise Ann Corbett (2 May 1947 - 2002)
- C E Sparks (still living)
- Gary Athol Sparks (23 April 1956 - 27 November 1980)
- Allan worked as an accountant for the Sanitarium Health Food Company in various places, including Auckland, Longburn (Palmerston North), and Brisbane. He also worked for the Sanitarium Health Food Company in England for some time. It was when they were living there that Allan and Thelma were notified of their son's death.
- Son Gary was killed in a motorbike accident in 1980 aged 24. Gary's obituary appeared in The Australasian Record 25 May 1981, p14:
SPARKS. Gary Athol Sparks, son of Allan and Thelma Sparks of New Zealand, who are presently in England working with the Sanitarium Health Food Company, died on November 27, 1980, as a result of a motor-cycle accident. He was buried in the Cooranbong Cemetery, New South Wales. Gary was born in Christchurch on April 23, 1956. He attended both Longburn and Avondale Colleges and was working at the Sanitarium Health Food factory at Cooranbong as an engineer at the time of his death. We remember Gary's smile. He smiled because he had an understanding of what life was all about. He smiled because he enjoyed life. He smiled because he knew that Jesus was his only Saviour. Allan and Thelma, along with their daughters, Denise and Carol, look forward to the resurrection morning. E. C. White.
- Allan passed away in Brisbane in 2012. The following obituary was printed in The Australasian Record, 6 October 2012 p22:
Judy Fua, Alvin Colthear, Bob Possingham.
- Thelma died in Victoria Point, Queensland, Australia, on 15 April 2019, aged 92.
Bibliography
- Richmond Road School. Registers of admissions, progress and withdrawals, 1885-1987. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2002-116. Accessed 27 May 2016.
Other sources
- Births, Deaths and Marriages
- Papers Past
- The Australasian Record
- Auckland Council - Cemetery Records
- Family records complied by Jessie McLean
- Ancestry - Electoral Roll Records
- The Stacey's from Somerset - genealogy website
- Five Generations of Archibalds - compliled by Jessie McLean (November 1992 edition)
- The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District], Primary Schools, The Cyclopedia Company Ltd, 1902 Christchurch. Accessed online 28 May 2016
- Richmond Road School. Records, 1885-1987. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2002-116. Accessed 27 May 2016.
- Photographs - E Donaldson, G J Bland
Last updated 21 March 2021
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