Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and matriarch; Sonja Gehring, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family in Mesa, Arizona on October 4, 2022. Sonja had a sister, Carolyn (Val) Player, and a brother, Jay C. (Dawn) Nichols.
Sonja was born February 7, 1937 in Los Angeles, California daughter of John Clifford Nichols and Ivy Zola Nichols. Sonja married her eternal sweetheart, Clarence Lamar “Lou” Gehring on September 16, 1957.
Sonja served for many years in the Utah Women’s Civic League contributing social, civic and cultural services to the community. She also served the Lord in many capacities including the Relief Society, Primary and Young Women’s organizations. Sonja loved working on humanitarian projects and loved any opportunity to sew and provide for those in need. One of her favorite hobbies was making “heatable huggies”. If you were lucky enough to receive one of these, then you have a treasure made personally with her loving, serving hands.
Sonja was a hard worker, she worked for Beneficial Life in downtown Salt Lake after graduating from High School. She was employed as a secretary for many years and when Sonja and Lou relocated to Arizona, she worked for over 30 years as a legal secretary for Udall, Shumway, Blackhurst and Lyons Law Firm.
Sonja took great pride in being a wife, mother and grandmother, she cherished her grandchildren. No one was a stranger to Sonja; she was a friend to all she met. Sonja passed on her love for Diet Coke, Black licorice and frosting to her children and grandchildren. Her faith, love, service and sweet example have and will continue to sustain her posterity. She is survived by her children, LuAnn Gehring, Mesa, Arizona, Rob (Lori) Gehring, Heber City, Utah, Mysti (Timmy) Brown, Mesa, Arizona. 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren with two on the way.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 14, 2022, at the Mesa East Stake Center, 2228 E. Brown Road, Mesa, Arizona at 10am with a viewing at 9am. There will be a viewing Thursday evening, October 13, at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, Arizona from 6-8pm. Interment at the City of Mesa Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints Humanitarian Aid Fund.
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
My deepest condolences to Sonja’s family. She is a beautiful woman and will be extremely missed. She was such a big help to me as a young associate and I will never forget her kindness and cheerfulness.