Joan Ortolon Sonnier, 77, gained her angel wings and flew up to Heaven on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. She graced the earth with her presence on October 11, 1942 to her parents, Robert James Ortolon, Jr. and Edith Ernestine Mauduit Ortolon at their home in Orangefield, Texas.

In December of 1962, she married the love of her life, Byron Henry Sonnier Jr. Together they built their home with love and raised 4 children, Ernest, Stephen, Nanette, and Christie. She graduated from high school in 1982, which was the same year that her oldest son also graduated high school. Throughout her life she worked many jobs from being a baker at Market Basket, a certified nurse’s aide for Orange Baptist Hospital, and a school bus driver for West Orange School District.

Joan had many titles and was a loving wife, mother, MawMaw, sister, aunt, and friend. She was strong in her faith and was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Orange.

Joan lived life her way. She was stubborn at times and because of that we all learned to cook better. She was known to give you instructions on what you were doing, or advice whether you asked for it or not. Her opinion was going to be voiced one way or another, but it was all done from love.

A lady of incredible strength and drive, Joan fought the good fight and has finished her race. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Edith Ortolon Jr; brother, Charles Ortolon and wife Susan; sister, Sybil Ann Ortolon; brother-in-law, Chester Boone; sister-in-laws, Elizabeth Voytek and husband Albert, and Gwen Gonzales; father and mother-in-law, Byron Henry Sr., and Olite Sonnier; and grandson, Thomas Blake M. Sonnier.

Joan is survived by her husband of 58 years, Byron Henry Sonnier Jr; children, Ernest Sonnier and wife Laura, Stephen Sonnier and husband Roy Dunn, Nanette Sonnier, and Christie Sonnier; siblings, Geraldine Ballard and husband Homer, Roberta Boone, Lois Hughes and husband Curtis, Kenneth Ortolon, Alfred Ortolon and wife Patti; grandchildren, Spencer Sonnier and wife Briana, Erica Pinney, Morgan Sonnier and Tyler Head, and Erik Sonnier; great-grandbaby arriving in July, Allyson J. D’Layne Head; and a host of extended family and friends.

Honoring the family by serving as pallbearers will be John L. Badeaux, Juan M. Cantu, CJ LeBlanc, Burke A. Gautreaux, Elwayne McCray, and Rodney P. Clark. Honorary pallbearers will be Spencer Sonnier, Erik Sonnier, and Felix T. Anderson.

Friends are invited to visit with the family from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020 with a recitation of the rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Claybar Funeral Home - Orange, 504 N. 5th St. Orange, TX. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 912 W Cherry Ave, Orange, TX. Interment will be in Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery, 2312 Irving, Orange, TX. A reception will follow at the West Orange City Hall, 2700 Western Avenue, West Orange, Texas.