Sonya Janel Harry

Sonya Janel Harry died on April 23, 2026 of cancer. She was 52 years old.

Sonya is survived by her wife, Alison Perkins, and their two sons, Micah and Nate Harry; her father Tom Harry, her brother Chris Harry (Leah) (Astrid and Xander), aunts/uncles: Don & Donna Walls, Alan & Barb Kobs, Bob & Patty Kunz, cousins: Sara, Erin, Heather, Dan, Mike and Lisa.

Sonya is preceded in death by her mother, Jan Harry, grandparents Don & Virginia Harry, and Cliff & Jean Kunz, uncle William Harry, and cousin Eric Schwegman.

Among her many friends are Roselin, Judy, Holly, Jan, Sofia, Donna H, Sue, Steve, and Julie.

Sonya loved her family profoundly. Since she was a child, her dream was to be a mother and run a household. Her skills at being a mother are exceptional. To say she “taught her children well” is evident when you meet them.

They are amazing people and they are her best legacy to this world. Sonya showed many of the rest of us just how important patience, love, and authenticity as a parent are. She was always “in charge” of our children, but never “in control” of them. The difference is marked and makes a huge impact in her approach to parenting. She made sure they could make age-appropriate decisions all along the way, and showed them unconditional love and acceptance at every step.

Sonya loved all aspects of family life. All the traditions and get-togethers, the food, the fellowship, the love shared when we gathered. Just being together made her so happy.

She loved cooking family favorite recipes and baking cookies and pies with, and for, the boys and extended family and friends. Her pecan pie is legendary at family and church gatherings.

Sonya loved organizing events and processes. She was quite the planner. She loved knitting, quilting, sewing, and creating homemade cards. Along with the knitting, sewing, and quilting, she loved the fabric and yarn that she used to create with. She loved the colors, the texture, and the feel of it all. She could look at a skein of yarn or a yard of fabric, and she could see how her love, ideas, and work could turn it into a beautiful treasure. She made tons of hats, scarves, socks, and quilts. Some she kept, but most she gifted to others. With each creation, she gave us each a piece of her heart and hard work.

Sonya always had a project (or two!) going on. She was always planning, thinking, and organizing something. She loved it all!!

Having grown up as a “preacher’s kid” (PK), Sonya understood and loved church life and church people (all people) from an early age. This intimate knowledge of all people having foibles AND being lovable, gave her a unique perspective and a vision of what it means to be human, and seeing past the foibles into the best part of each of us. This is one of her truly amazing gifts to the world. She helps each of us get in touch with the better parts of ourselves, helps us see our own value, and loves us enough to heal our worst instincts.

She was a “safe” person….. always!!

Sonya loved nature. She loved the woods and hiking and water and wood burning fires and just being in nature. She loved family time at Lakeside. The beach, the sand, the water, the “sea glass”.

Moss on a dead log was spiritual to her. It was “everlasting” life incarnate. Even a “dead” tree provided the basis of life for the moss or mushrooms, not to mention insects using it as a home or shelter.

She enjoyed travel as well, especially international travel. She traveled to England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, South Africa, and many Latin American countries. She spent a whole school year in Mexico as an exchange student, where she became fluent in Spanish.

Sonya received her undergraduate degree in Social Work from Baldwin Wallace College (now University). She loved her time there and met many people whom she kept in touch with over the years, including Holly, Marianne, and Elizabeth to name a few.

Afterwards, she attended the University of Chicago where she earned her Master’s degree in Social Work. At the end of another 2-year process she earned her LISW-S credential which is the highest credential available for her education level. She loved living in Chicago and has fond memories of the sights, sounds, and weather there. And parking in the city, where people use their bumpers to actually bump into other cars while parking (smile).

After completing her education, she worked with children, mainly. She was a home-based therapist working with children in Fairfield (Butler County, OH) and at St. Joe’s in Dayton, OH. Her professional life also included working with children in a school setting in Waynesville, OH. She loved it all and helped so many children cope with learning disabilities, very difficult lives, and their family structures.

She took a break from her professional life when she birthed our two children.

When she returned to paid work, the boys were aged 8 and 11. She wanted part time work so she could still be present for the boys before and after school. Our church was in need of a part time office manager. This was an ideal opportunity for her to use her organizing skills, people skills, and contribute to, and be an integral part of church life again. She was a grounding force and positive voice to many leaders and congregants, and helped with the sale of the building and the moving process. No small task. As a PK, Sonya had lots of experience moving, and she put it all to good use in this gigantic undertaking.

Here again, Sonya shines.

She loved that job and was so sad to have to give it up due to her disease progression.

Our loss is incredibly profound. There are no words to express the depth of our sadness and the magnitude of impact Sonya had on our lives.

To say she will be missed seems so tiny compared to the hole she leaves in our lives.

Her love, her caring, her authenticity, her simple complexity, her work ethic, her perseverance, her emotional intelligence, her kindness, and her sincere ability to welcome and cherish everyone “just as they are”, are just some of the things that make Sonya truly unique, special, and beautiful.

We love you now and always, Sonya Harry. Thank you for enriching our lives so thoroughly.

A Time of Greeting (in the Narthex) from 10:30 - 11:30am followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:30am will be held on Saturday June 13, 2026 (followed by a meal).

Location: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 901 E. Stroop Rd. Kettering, OH 45429

Special note: Sonya was born in the spring and died in the spring. Her favorite color was red. She loved all colors in the red family, like salmon, coral, and purple. If you attend her Celebration of Life and are so inclined, please wear something colorful in honor of her that day.(Really, she would love anything colorful!)

In lieu of cut flowers, Sonya would love for you to give to the local charity of your choice, or plant a tree, or a flower in her memory. She also valued the work of Heifer International and other organizations designed to help people.