Sonoia Ethwa Mitchell

Sonoia Ethwa Mitchell, 80, of Rabbit Hill Road, Loving, NM, passed away June 25, 2024 at her home. Cremation has taken place, and a celebration of life is scheduled for 3:00 PM, Saturday, July 20, 2024 at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park, 1504 Skyline Drive, Carlsbad, NM with Jimmy Tarvin officiating. Dinner and fellowship to follow.

Sonoia was born March 22, 1944 in Dodge City, Kansas to Joe and Willie Mae (Akridge) Gentry. She was raised in Midland, Texas and moved to Carlsbad in 1972. Sonoia attended college at NMSU-Carlsbad with an emphasis in business. She worked for the New Mexico State Park service in maintenance and then to Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park as a clerk. Sonoia was a life member of Friends of the Living Desert. She was baptized at First Christian Church. Sonoia will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents: mother, Willie Mae Akridge; father, Joe Lee Hernandez-Gentry; brothers; Joe Irvin Gentry, Richard Eli Gentry; son, William "Will" Butler Mitchell.

Survivors are her daughter, Tammy & Husband Ron Bridges of Lubbock, TX; son, Richard & Wife Tammy Mitchell of Giddings, TX; daughter, Beth & Husband Mark Beene of Carlsbad, NM; daughter-in-law, Alicia Mitchell Victoria, TX; grandchildren: Natasha & Husband Doug McCullough, Wacey and Wife Marissa Mitchell, Tyler Mitchell, Drew and Wife Katie Mitchell, Tiffany Mitchell, Cody Brewer, Todd and Wife Myranda Brewer, Victoria Brewer, Abbi & Husband Brandon Sanchez, Walker and Wife Ashley Beene, and great-grandchildren; Brinnley, Kynley, Trynli & Mason McCullough, Kyler, Corbin & Swayze Brewer, Laithan, Liam & Hadley Mitchell, Avery & Jase Mitchell, Tristan & Jax Brewer, Braelynn Mitchell, Nathan, Elliana and Brooklyn Sanchez, Lorenzo Beene. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Living Desert, 1504 Skyline Drive, Carlsbad, NM 88220