Obituary of Charlene Sonnier

Charlene Atkins Sonnier passed away at her residence August 12, 2007 after a lengthy illness. A time of visitation will be held from 5-8 pm Wednesday, August 15, 2007 with a prayer vigil at 7pm at St. Jude Catholic Church, 3800 Viking Drive, Bossier City, LA, with Rev. Billy Pearce and Monsignor Carson LaCaze officiating. A Funeral Mass will take place at 10:00 am Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church where she was an active member. Monsignor Carson LaCaze, Monsignor Earl V. Provenza, V.F., and Father Pike Thomas will officiate. Donald E. Sonnier, Jr., Donnie Leflett, Charles Boone, Dr. Clint McAlister, Sidney Burt, B.T. Johnston, Joe Petitjean and Ed Cooper will serve as pallbearers. Jay Hipple, Clay Brock, Dr. Roy Fleniken, Mann Wallace, Marvin Wingate, Tommy Petitjean, Charles Wilbanks, and Jim Petitjean will serve as honorary pallbearers. Her parents Raybon C. and Dorothy Atkins preceded Mrs. Sonnier in death. She is survived by her husband, Donald E. Sonnier of Benton, LA; daughter, Laura Lee and her husband Donnie Leflett of Bossier City, LA; son, Donald E. Sonnier, Jr. of Bossier City, LA; grandchildren: Lauren, Peyton, and Tanner Leflett, and Addison Sonnier, all of Bossier City, LA. Mrs. Sonnier was a graduate of St. Vincent Academy and Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge); a member of Plantation Ball Club, Cotillion Club, Duchess Club, and Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier. She served on Board of Directors for Volunteers of America, taught C.C.D. at St. Jude Catholic Church, Centenary College Chi Omega Adviser, Chairman of Bossier Parish Mothers March of Dimes, Chairman of Bossier Parish Heart Association, Member of Potpourri Study Club, Hoe and Hope Garden Club, Cypress Area Garden Club, Charter Member of Krewe of Gemini where she was instrumental in organizing the Krewe of Gemini Royalty Club, First Holiday in Dixie Duchess of Bossier Parish, and was Most Outstanding Young Woman of Bossier Parish in 1973. She was active in the pecan industry and worked closely with the LSU Pecan Experiment Station, as she affectionately became known as the "Nut Lady". The family would like to offer special thanks to Diane Gragston, Dr. Michael Moore and his staff at Willis Knighton Cancer Center and all of her special friends. Memorials may be made to Shriner's Hospital, American Cancer Society, Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries, or to the charity of the donor's choice