Sylvia "Sparks" Louise (Haugh) Byrnes

Sylvia Louise "Sparks" Byrnes departed for Heaven on March 11, 2021. She was born April 13, 1935 in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Charles Hubert Haugh and Blanche Esther (Hammond) Haugh.

She attended schools in State College and Tyrone, Pennsylvania, graduating from Grier School in 1953. She attended the Pennsylvania State University 1953- 1956. On December 23, 1955 she married Arthur V. Tennyson. From 1956-1967 she lived in Pennsylvania, Florida, Turkey, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Sylvia was involved in the American Girl Scouts 1942 to 1967. She also was active in St. Paul's Methodist Church when residing in State College, PA, and in Air Force base chapels, especially the Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC) programs, as vice-president at Grenier Field, NH and Vice-President, Secretary, and President at Kirtland AFB, NM. She sang in the chapel choirs at Patrick AFB, FL; Incirlik AFB, Turkey; Grenier Field, NH; and Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. She completed her BA in Art Education in 1966 from Penn State. Divorced in 1967, she taught art in Dayton and Fairborn, Ohio public schools 1966-1975.

In 1971 she married the love of her life, Donn A. Byrnes. In 1975 they moved from Ohio to Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1977 she and Donn moved to the Ten Acre Puzzle on the mesa, east of Los Lunas, NM. In later years they moved to Senior Living in Albuquerque.

Sparks had a lifelong love of horses. She rode, trained and showed horses periodically throughout her life. She enjoyed traveling with Donn, first in the "Zeppelin", then in "Spot". She also liked gardening, baking bread, dairy goats, bike riding, quilting, various crafts, and was also a watercolorist and member of the NM Watercolor Society, participating in local art exhibitions. She enjoyed her role as 'Grandma', trying to keep abreast of grandchildrens' and then great-grandchildrens' many activities and interests.

Sparks was predeceased by her husband Donn A. Byrnes, of Albuquerque, NM; her sister Helen M. Haugh and brother Hubert H. Haugh of State College, PA. She is survived by two daughters, Phyllis Tarbell/ Claude, and Margaret L. Robey /Robert, and son: Arthur H. Tennyson and by four step-daughters: Kathleen A. Johns /Dan; Kimberly A. Syra /Barry; Karen A. Allen; and Connie A. Knauss . There are eleven grandchildren: Joni Martin, Benjamin, Christopher and Kevin Tarbell; Jonathan and Rachel Robey; Melissa Franklin; Odette, Scott, Connie and Kent Allen; Donna Fiorentino and Erik Knauss, and many great-grandchildren, plus a host of relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank all her caregivers from Interim and Good Samaritan HHC and UNMH, and Manzano Del Sol for all their loving care.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society or Animal Humane New Mexico or The Storehouse NM Food Bank.

A viewing and services will be held in-person and virtually for family and friends Weds, March 17, 2021 starting at 11AM to 1 PM at French's Funerals 7121 Wyoming Blvd, Albuquerque, NM. Only 10 persons may enter at a time due to Covid so please schedule a time to join. Burial will be private at Sante Fe National Cemetery.

To join the virtual service please click the link here: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/50261