A Celebration of Life will be held later in the spring

Cemetery: Woodlawn 

On March 11, 1935, Carl and Lucile Traxler welcomed their youngest daughter, Sonya to the​ world. Sonya, lovingly known as Sonny, was the baby of the family, loved by her parents and​ her siblings, Vivian, Jack and Charles. She graduated from South High School in 1953 and soon​ met the love of her life, Ray Koets. Ray and Sonny were married on June 23, 1956 and together​ built a family of their own having three children who they loved very much, Kelli (Edwin), Kevin,​ and Kerri (Randy). Ray and Sonny loved their children very much but also loved becoming​ grandparents to six grandchildren who loved them very much. Their grandson Ryan, feels so​ lucky to have many memories of going to airshows and spending weekends with his mama and​ papa at the family’s cabin. Andy (Rachel) will always remember how special it was when he got​ to first introduce his grandma to her first great grandchild, Grayson. Shane (Sheena)​ remembers just how prepared she was for every situation with her enormous purse. On one​ occasion, she even reached in and pulled out a light bulb. Zach and Connor both have special​ memories of spending many New Year’s Eves with their grandma in a tradition that they all​ came to love. And April (Zack) fondly remembers her grandma sewing clothes for her dolls and​ gardening, but above all else always telling her that she was praying for her no matter what.​  Sonny was a woman of habits, looking forward to her weekly visits to the hair salon with her​ dear friend Sue and Sunday family dinners. She would sometimes drive her family crazy in​ recent years as she landed on her favorite, but not so healthy, daily lunch of a cookie, a​ pudding, cheese and of course, a Coca Cola – never Pepsi. Her sweet tooth and love of desserts​ was unequaled, until perhaps when Grayson arrived on the scene. Sonny loved being a mom​ and a grandma, but she was so proud to become a great grandma to Grayson Reeder,​ Evangeline Colburn, Sage Andrews and most recently, twins Brynn and Kinsley Reeder.​  On Sunday January 14, 2024 Jesus called Sonny home to him. She loved the song, “I Can Only​ Imagine”. Now we are left to imagine how wonderful it was for her to meet Jesus. Now, she is​ finally reunited with her husband, Ray, and son, Kevin. She was also reunited with her loving​ parents and siblings.  Besides her children and grandchildren, Sonny leaves behind several nieces and nephews (who she loved dearly). She also leaves behind her dear friends Shirley and Judy. We can’t forget to mention Kitty Marie, her pet, companion and friend for the last several years.​  Our family would like to thank the staff at St. Ann’s for the gentle loving care they provided for​ Sonny. A private burial has taken place. A celebration of Sonny’s life will be scheduled for the​ spring.  As her family, we will never stop missing her. But we will always hold onto the lifetime of love​ and memories she has given us.