Sondra Jean Goffinet

“Sonnie” was born to Woodrow and Mildred (Gronning) Booth on December 21, 1941, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. Sonnie grew up on the Redlands and fondly remembered her childhood there where she rode horses and explored the local landscape with her dad and friends. She graduated from GJHS in 1959 and attended Mesa State College before marrying Robert (Bob) H. Phillips in 1961. They then moved to Denver where she supported Bob through college. Soon after, they moved to Southern California where she spent the next 40 years. Sonnie and Bob learned to fly small planes, and their young family would often fly to Grand Junction to visit family and friends.

Sonnie initially supported Bob in his building business, but spent most of her career in fashion retail. She was married to Bob until 1973, and then later to James R. Goffinet from 1976 to 1995. She returned to Grand Junction in 2003, to support her mother, and became a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Sweet Adelines choir. She also volunteered at the Botanic Gardens and with the Partners program. She loved spending time with family and friends, taking pottery classes, gardening and her Silver Sneakers exercise class. This last year she had fun at obedience school with her puppy Lucy, learning along with her best friend and sister-in –law Pat Belcastro. Sonnie was always up for adventure and travel. Her most recent adventures include Sante Fe, New York, Jackson, Wyoming, Switzerland and France. She was planning a trip to New Zealand to visit her granddaughter Janele before she became ill this spring.

Sonnie is survived by her son Mike Phillips of Panama City, Florida, her daughter Heide Phillips (Joe) Alexander of Boulder, Colorado, and her brother James Booth of Rifle, Colorado. She is also survived by 4 grandchildren: Zachari B. Shockley of New York City, Janele (Clément) Rousteau of Napier, New Zealand, and Robert H. Alexander and Sarah A. Alexander, both of Boulder, Colorado, as well as two great grandchildren, Liam and Zoé Rousteau.

The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful care Sonnie received during her illness at St. Mary’s Hospital, Home Care of the Grand Valley, Primary Care Partners, and the Hope West Hospice Care Center. Thank you all.

A graveside celebration of life is scheduled for Monday, November 10, at 11AM, at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Grand Junction, Colorado. Donations may be made in Sondra’s name to HopeWest Hospice.