Sonia Evylynn Cody passed away peacefully on Monday June 13th at Monument Health hospital. The wonderful compassionate care she was receiving from the attending nurses and sitters made her final days as comfortable as possible.

Sonia was born in Darlington England on November 9th 1934. The first years of her life were spent in India at her grandfather’s estate. Her family returned to Cambridge England just before the start of WW2. She had many stories of her experiences as a young girl during that war.

She met her husband James C Cody while he was stationed at RAF Lakenheath England. They fell in love instantly and she came with him to Ellsworth AFB when he was stationed there.

Sonia was a devoted Air Force wife and a wonderful mother to her two sons Paul and Bob. She spent her time as a member of all the wive’s clubs helping to support families of airmen and as a den mother to her son’s Scouting adventures. She also encouraged her son’s in their sports activities throughout their school years by being an active member of the Douglas Booster Club.

In the early 70s she became an art teacher at Douglas school system. She would go on to teach and substitute at the many schools for many years. In the summers she worked as a lifeguard and water safety instructor at the base pool.

In the early 80’s she threw herself into taking care of James after his being diagnosed with mesothelioma and agent orange related cancers. She took him to every hospital in the country that had research and treatments for people with these ailments(often driving across the country when flights were not available). His doctor’s often attributed his living for 13 years with these terminal illnesses to her diligence and care for him.

Some how during this struggle she also found time to volunteer for many years for the Red Cross. She received accolades for her devotion to helping others. She also was a member of Group Theater in Rapid City. She would help with stage and set design.

Sonia was an extraordinary artist and she would help the clubs on the base with advertising and promotional artwork. She took her talent to extraordinary levels when she began doing murals in and on many buildings throughout the area. They included the base library, the hospital, the windows of the base credit union for Christmas and many of the schools at Douglas. Those included the old Vandenberg, Badger Clark, the exterior of Frances Case and on the dome ceiling of the old Carousel school. All this was volunteer work, because she wanted the kids to enjoy the art. She also painted the middle school library for the Sturgis school system. Her last art work was for the children’s room at the Department of Social Services in Rapid city. She filled its walls with clowns, cartoons and animals to give the children the chance to smile. She loved children and her life was always devoted to helping them.

Later in her life she amazed her neighbors children, who loved her, because they would come by and she would give them candy and ice cream while teaching them art on her front porch.

A fiercely strong and independent woman that spent he life devoted to her family, volunteering and giving to whatever charity her time and efforts could help.

She is survived by her son’s Paul and Robert Cody, her beautiful grandchildren Skye and Kade Cody in Australia, her niece Donna, nephews Jerry and Micheal and her brother Tony and his family.

At her request there will not be funeral services. She wanted people to remember her for her amazing life not her passing.

In lieu of flowers she would love people to donate to children’s charities such as St. Jude’s hospital, the Children’s Miracle Network, Youth and Family Services or any other ones in her name.

Lastly. I know she would want me to say this…kisses and hugs to all from her!