Sonja Lee Small

Sonja Lee Small was born on September 24, 1940, in Joplin, Missouri to Clifton Huey Booher and Dorothy Pauline Anderson. She grew up in Houston, Texas with her mom and stepfather, Bill Hemphill and two younger siblings Will and Tim Hemphill, whom she adored. She spent summers in Waxahachie, Texas with her father and stepmother Evah and enjoyed time on her grandmother’s farm playing with her many cousins. Waxahachie was always her home away from home.

While attending Bellaire High School, Sonja met the love of her life, Edmund Robert Small, and after a brief courtship, they married in 1959, beginning a partnership that lasted 62 years until Ed's passing in 2021. Together they built and enjoyed a beautiful life while raising their three children Sheryl, Sally and Clifton in a home filled with love and laughter.

Sonja was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose love, strength, compassion, and incredible sense of humor shaped generations and brought light to everyone who met her. Sonja was also a hardworking and accomplished businesswoman. After raising her family and losing her oldest daughter Sheryl, she decided to go to back to work in the early 80’s. She was hired as a floral designer for the local Randall’s grocery store chain and quickly became a valued employee. After receiving her Master Floral Designer Certification, she was promoted to floral manager and worked at many of the Randall’s Flagship stores for over 30 years. Whether she was making floral arrangements for special occasions, weddings, or interior designs, her ideas, talent and creativity were inspired and endless. She found joy in everyday living which included time spent with her adoring family and her beloved dog Ty, anything involving nature, gardening, and eating a good plate of Tex-Mex food whenever possible. Sonja will always be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and her fun-loving spirit. She leaves behind a legacy of love, perseverance, and faith that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Sonja will be deeply missed by her daughter Sally Jayroe and her husband Bill, her sons Clifton Small and Karl Kurkey, her grandchildren Chase and Michelle Jayroe, Christine and Jacob Rosen, Hunter Jayroe and his fiancée Katie Neat, Haley and Tyler Fiscella, her 11 great-grandchildren, and her extended family and numerous friends. Sonja deeply cherished each and every one of the relationships in her life.

The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Ascension Living in Waco, Texas for their care and kindness over the past four months and most especially to Dr. Paul Schulz and Dr. Holly Holmes for their excellent care and for giving us so many good years with our beloved mom.

The memorial service to celebrate Sonja’s life including visitation and lunch with the family afterwards is planned for November 8, 2025, at 11:00 at Forest Park Westheimer in Houston, Texas, Pastor Darin Zumwalt residing. Flowers can be sent to Forest Park 12800 Westheimer Road and memorial contributions can be made to the Neurocognitive Disorders Center at UT Health 1941 East Rd. Suite 4358, Houston, Texas 77054.