James Byron Sonney, son of the late Oliver Sonney and Mae Graham Sonney, was born on June 1, 1942, in Greene County, Ark., and died in the Missouri Southern Healthcare at Dexter on Sept. 27, 2003, at the age of 61.

Mr. Sonney was a member of the Second General Baptist Church in Dexter, a former forklift operator at Stanislaus Food in Modesto, Calif., and a resident of Dexter.

He was united in marriage to Cynthia Rogers on May 11, 1961, at Rector, Ark. Mrs. Sonney survives of the home in Dexter.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, Jimmy Dean Sonney of Moville, Iowa, Rickey Allen Sonney and Michael Shane Sonney, both of Modesto, Calif.; one daughter, Donna Marie Page of Longview, Texas; three brothers, Wayne Sonney of Australia, Donnie Sonney of Schurz, Texas, and Melvin Sonney of Paragould, Ark.; three sisters, Louise Stackhouse of Modesto, Calif., Mamie Worley of Farmington, and Faye Tucker of Riverbank, Calif.; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Doyle "Red" Sonney, Charlie Sonney, and Roy Sonney.

Visitation was held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, 2003, in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Phil Warren officiating.

Interment followed in the Dexter Cemetery.