Martha Nichols Sonn's Obituary
SONN, Martha Marie Nichols 86, of St. Petersburg, passed away at her home, surrounded by her family on Saturday, September 12th, 2020, as her grandson Hayden played his guitar and sang her favorite hymns.
Marie was born on August 16, 1934 on a farm in Oxford, Florida to Beulah May and William Jefferson Nichols. She graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1952, went on to study nursing at Mound Park School of Nursing and graduated from SPJC in 1955. In 1980, she earned her BA at USF. As an RN, she worked in many different areas of nursing but always spoke most enthusiastically about her time in the operating rooms of Mound Park Hospital, St Anthony's and Palms of Pasadena. In 1967, she began what would be a long career at Bay Pines Veterans Administration. She retired from the VA in 1994, last serving as the Night Nursing Supervisor.
Marie married Roy G. Sonn in 1955 and they lived happily together for 54 years. They attended Open Bible Tabernacle for many years and Marie most recently was a member at Calvary Chapel in St. Petersburg. Marie and Roy thoroughly enjoyed their road trips; early on taking their kids on yearly vacations to the Smokey Mountains and later visiting many places across the US, Canada and Europe. Marie was also an avid collector of American Fostoria glassware and loved selling her finds at various antique emporiums around town.
Her life was spent loving and caring for her family, friends and those in her church. As a well respected RN, by all who knew her, she became the go to family member for medical advice and comfort. She will be greatly missed and will forever be in our hearts.
She was preceded in death by her husband Roy G. Sonn, and by her siblings:
Ivo Emory, Cleo Hatch, Luther Nichols, and Delma Booth. She is survived by her daughter Stephanie Sonn Anderson (Wayne) of St Petersburg and a son Roy Gregory Sonn of Palm Springs, CA; three grandchildren Ryan Marr (Christine), Dustin Marr (Kristin) and Hayden Anderson (Antonella); and six great grandchildren.
In Marie's Memory, donations may be made to Suncoast Hospice https://suncoasthospicefoundation.org/donations/ and Calvary Chapel St Petersburg.
A memorial service will be held at Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg on September 29, 2020 at 6:00 PM
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