Sonia Peterson Aycock

Sonia Aycock
Ephraim, UT
    Sonia Peterson Aycock, 84, passed away smiling, peacefully in her bed on November 16, 2022, in Washington, Utah. Sonia was born to C. Ray and Geneva Irons Peterson in Burley, Idaho November 5, 1938. Raised in a humble, traditional “Mormon” home, Sonia was the first of five children.
    Sonia attended Whitney Elementary and Boise High School. When she later attended Brigham Young University, she met her eternal companion, Max Edward Aycock. They married December 16, 1959 in the Salt Lake City Temple. 
    Sonia and Max raised their five children in Ephraim, Utah among the alfalfa fields in Kane Valley, where their neighbors formed more a family than neighborhood.
    Sonia shared her love of books and reading with her family and friends. The neighbor children would gathered on her front porch to listen to her read while enjoying homemade yogurt popsicles. Sonia helped start the Ephraim Lunch Bunch book group. It stayed active until they moved on to other towns, or onto Heaven. 
    She loved music! In college she formed a two-time, award wining singing quartet that performed at LDS General Conference in 1948. A skilled violinist, Sonia participated in the Snow College and Utah Valley Orchestras, the local Handel Messiah productions, and many Snow College productions. She also shared this love by teaching many young violinists in Sanpete. 
    A friend to all, Sonia would drop what she was doing to help those in need. From caring for a newborn baby of a mother, to lending a sympathetic ear to the broken hearted, she would immediately act when prompted by the spirit. 
    She loved her grandchildren and looked forward to spending time with them in the summers: playing games, eating yogurt popsicles and yellow cereal, bird and star watching, sleeping under the stars, and feeding the hummingbirds.
    Early in life, she recognized her gift that comes from the power and Spirit of Elijah. The time and effort she devoted to family history, genealogy, and temple work cannot be understated. Her generous and open sharing of her genealogical skills blessed and inspired all she came in contact with. When introduced to a stranger, Sonia could quickly establish a familial connection. Her deceased ancestors were real and present, not just names on a page. Her home office, better known as the Dead Room, was a sacred place. Her reception in Heaven could only be imagined as a standing room only event because of the countless lives she blessed through her genealogical and temple work.
    Survived by her children: Celeste (Joe) Liljenquist, Ruth (Doug) Holmes, Robert (Heidi) Aycock, Lora (Brad) Stewart, Jennifer (Heath) Petersen; 21 grandchildren, and 23 great grandchildren; and her sisters: Zina Woods, Christina Rae Chrislip and Debara Carroll. Preceded in death by her sister Marie; parents; and husband, Max Edward Aycock. 
    Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 12:00 Noon in the Ephraim Stake Center, 400 East Center Street.  Friends may call at the church on Sunday, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. and also prior to services from 10:00-11:30.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sonia’s memory to the Perpetual Education Fund or Humanitarian Assistance Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Online obituary and live streaming of the services available at www.maglebymortuary.com under Sonia’s obituary.  Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti