Allison Michelle Sparrow

Allison Michelle Sparrow (born Allison Michelle Deming on October 24, 1982) lived a life shaped by creativity, kindness, and a restless curiosity that found expression in art, music, and handcrafted work. A graduate of Indiana University with degrees in studio art and art history, Allison brought a maker’s eye to everything she did — sewing, jewelry making, crocheting, photography and music — and shared those gifts with friends and strangers alike.

Friends remember Allison as someone who could make others laugh and who carried a seemingly endless supply of small comforts and surprises in her famously generous purse. She sold her handmade clothing and accessories through Etsy, at small shops around San Francisco, and at neighborhood craft fairs. Her work and her presence became part of the Mission District’s fabric, where she loved to explore fabric stores, local venues and parks with close companions.

Music was a deep part of Allison’s life: she played with friends in local bands and often performed alongside her partner, a guitarist. Those who knew her recall spontaneous songs, inside jokes that turned into cherished memories, and the way she connected with people through shared music and laughter.

Allison was the eldest child of Curt and Gina Deming and sister to Andrew; she spent much of her childhood in Florida and is remembered by family and friends in Florida, Indiana and California. A memorial gathering was held for her family and friends in January 2016.

Her last years included difficult challenges, and during that time Allison continued to make and to give, reflecting a warmth and empathy that remained constant even when life grew hard. Friends who met her in the Mission District and in a local encampment described her as a bright, compassionate presence who uplifted those around her with small acts of care.

Allison’s circle remembers a person who loved, listened and made beauty with her hands. Her work, her music and the laughter she inspired remain the truest measures of the life she led. She is remembered not for the manner of her death but for the imagination, heart and creative spirit she offered to everyone she met.