Lonyea Raymonde Grace

Lonyea was born on August 24, 1959 in Fairfield, California at Travis Airforce Base to mother Mary Phedonia Phillips and father Walter Louis Phillips. She grew up in different cities in California, but Sacramento, CA was her hometown.

On June 08, 1979 she gave birth to Kyoko Akima Klor (maiden name Lim), and Lonyea was heartbroken when her beautiful daughter passed on April 24, 2025. On October 09, 1981 she gave birth to her second child, Dante Orprilla Mariano Jr. and her world was complete with two exceptional children.

In March of 1983 Lonyea enlisted into the U.S. Army and due to injuries was discharged in June of 1983. In 1985 Lonyea started at Western Career College and received her degree as a lab assistant/Phlebotomist and worked in the medical field for more than 30 years.

On December 28, 1990 she met her husband Ronald A. Grace Jr. at the Silver Nugget Casino working as a keno runner. They married on May 09, 1992 and were married until she passed.

Lonyea Grace became the first black female officer for the Nevada Highway Patrol. Lonyea also traveled the world as an Army wife with her husband Ron and in 2014 they returned to Las Vegas, NV before retiring in 2015. Lonyea enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren until she was called home.

Lonyea Raymonde Grace is survived by her husband, Ronald A. Grace Jr.; her son, Dante O. Mariano Jr.; her eight grandchildren; and her brothers, Walter Phillips, Shamsadine Mohammed, Anthony Phillips, Kevin Phillips, and Ivan Phillips.