L.J. Sonier, 89, Orange

L.J. Sonier, 89, of Orange, Texas, passed away on February 27, 2024, at home. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 1, 2024, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend David Millner. Burial will follow at Big Wood Cemetery in Vinton, Louisiana. Visitation will begin prior to the service at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 1, 2024, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Born in Vinton, Louisiana, on July 11, 1935, he was the son of Vores Sonier and Lucille (Pruitt) Sonier. L.J. had a deep appreciation for the outdoors and spent much of his free time enjoying nature. His love for his family was evident to all who knew him, and he cherished watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren play sports. In addition to this, he found joy in going fishing and working with livestock, finding solace in the simplicity of these activities. He was known for his years of service as Captain on a tugboat and working as a heavy-duty operator. L.J. will be dearly missed by his surviving family members, including his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and friends who were touched by his kindness and warmth. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Sonier; parents, Vores and Lucille Sonier; brothers, Edward Sonier, Leland Sonier, Floyd Sonier, and Jerry Sonier; half sister, Gladys Martin. He is survived by his son, Gary Lynn Sonier and wife, Becky; daughter, Cindy Gay Howell and husband, James; grandchildren, Joshua David Sonier and wife, Lacy, Ryan Nathan Sonier and wife, Sarah, Jacob Dale Howell; step grandson, Aaron Dale Howell and wife, Cindy; great grandchildren, Ryder Sonier, Gunner Sonier, and Phalin Sonier; as well as numerous other loving family and friends. Serving as pallbearers will be Ricky Sonier, Leland Sonier, David Sonier, Blake Sonier, Frank Arabie, and Robert Arabie. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org/ or to American Lung Association at https://action.lung.org/.