Louis Hefley

Louis “Sonny” Hefley, 90, passed away Saturday January 21, 2023, at Prairie House Assisted Living in Broken Arrow, OK. Sonny was surrounded by his family when he peacefully left his earthly body.

A celebration of his life will be held on Friday January 27 at 1:30pm at the First Christian Church in Neodesha. The burial will be in the Neodesha Cemetery.

Sonny was born to Louis V. Hefley and Francis Irene (Baze) Hefley on December 13, 1932, in Oswego, KS. He attended school in Parsons, KS, graduating in 1951. He later attended the University of Kansas studying to be a Lab Tech. Immediately after high school, Sonny joined the United States Air Force where he was a medic stationed in Labrador, Newfoundland. He was Honorably Discharged in 1955. During his time in the Air Force, Sonny married the love of his life, Martha Nancy Thomas in 1951 and they were married for 60 years. Martha preceded him in death in 2011. Several years later, Sonny found joy and love again when he met Louise Gowin in Yuma, AZ. They married in August of 2019 and enjoyed several years together.

Sonny’s passion, next to his family, was flying. He flew anything that would get him off the ground (planes, helicopters, powered parachutes, etc.). He would rather be flying than just about anything else! Sonny was a well known and loved citizen of Neodesha for most of his life. He had the reputation of being ‘the greatest storyteller’ as well as jokester, jack of all trades (master of none), party planner, etc. He and Martha were ‘Roasted’ by the City of Neodesha for a fund-raising event and the stories that were told by friends were limitless.

Sonny started his career after the Air Force as a Lab Technician and worked his way up to Hospital Administrator of Wilson County Hospital. After leaving this position of 14 years, Sonny began his career as a Pipeline Patrol Pilot for Amoco / BP Petroleum. He continued this until his retirement when he and Martha made a permanent move to Grove, OK to enjoy lake life.

Sonny is survived by his 3 children; Randy (Peggy) Hefley, Whitehouse, TX; Nancy (Brian) Brandwein, Broken Arrow, OK and Jane (Phillip) Cunningham, Grove, OK. He is also survived by 9 Grandchildren, 12 Great Grandchildren (one more due in July) and 2 Great-Great Grandchildren, Sister, Linda Allison, Dallas, TX, Brother Bill (Ginger) Hefley, Topeka, KS, Brother-In-Law Jack Thomas, Bogue, KS, Sister-In-Law Sandy (Bayard) Kulb, Phoenix, AZ, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Sonny was preceded in death by Martha, his parents, Brother-In-Law Jake Allison. Memorials can be left in Sonny’s memory to The Wilson Medical Center Foundation, and can be left with Loran Fawcett Chapel in Neodesha, Kansas. On-Line condolences can be left to the family by going to www.loranfawcettfuneralhome.com