SPARTA - Myla S. Ashley, 72, of Sparta, passed away Saturday, August 8, 2026, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Myla was born in Red Bud, Illinois, along with her twin sister, Lyla, on November 14, 1953, to Wilbert and Alberta (Eggemeyer) Sternberg. She wed her high school sweetheart, Tom Ashley, on June 15, 1974, at the Zion Lutheran Church, Walsh. He survived. Myla was a member of the Sparta First United Methodist Church. She graduated from Sparta High School in 1971, and began working at the Evansville Shoe Factory, and a short time later, started working at Sparta Printing in the Bindery Department and worked there until it closed in 1996. A short time later, she began working at Sparta Wal-Mart and helped set up the new Wal-Mart store. She retired in 2015.

Myla loved being a mom and later a doting grandma. She missed very few of her grandsons’ baseball games, sometimes going to two games on the same night in two different towns. Baking and decorating cookies with her granddaughters became an annual holiday tradition. Myla looked forward to summer vacations in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, the Columbus Day weekend family trips to Branson, and spending a winter week in Seagrove Beach, Florida.

Along with her husband, Myla is survived by her mother, Alberta Sternberg of Chester; daughter, Melissa (David) Castens of Sparta; son, Brad (Bridgett) Ashley of Freeport, FL; sister, Lyla (Larry) Inselman of Chester; grandchildren, Caleb Gailey (Mariah Hemker), Austin Gailey, Carly Castens, Seth Castens, Drake (Michaela) Castens, and Sydney Castens; sisters-in-law, Nancy Ashley (Mike Colson) and Rena Cundiff; and many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Preceding her in death was her father, Wilbert Sternberg; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gene and Wanda Ashley; and grandparents, Harry and Lillie Sternberg and George and Frederica Eggemeyer.

Funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Sparta, on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 11:00 am, with Rev. Leslie Chalupny officiating. Burial will follow at Caledonia Cemetery, Sparta. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday from 8:30 am until 11 am. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church-General Fund, and can be mailed to, Wilson’s Funeral Home, PO Box 217, Steeleville, IL 62288.