Sonja Sue Leavelle

Sonja Sue Leavelle, age 78 of Clifton, Texas, passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Clifton at the Lutheran Sunset Home Hope Unit. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am Monday, July 31, 2023, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Whitney with Pastor Benny Leavelle officiating. A burial will follow at Hillcrest Garden of Memory in Hillsboro. A visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00 pm Sunday, July 30, 2023, at Marshall and Marshall in Whitney.

Sonja was born March 1, 1945, in Detroit, Texas to Lloyd and Valerie (Bibby) Leavelle. She grew up in Mesquite and then she moved to Oak Cliff. Sonja worked for the Radiology Associates running an IBM punch card machine. Later she was united in marriage to Sonny Bailey and the family grew from three children to six children and they all moved to Hillsboro. After moving to Hillsboro, she attended Hill College Cosmetology School and became a beautician. Opening her first salon in Hillsboro named Park Hill Salon and operated it for 20 years. After that, she eventually moved to Whitney and began working at Carmen’s Hair Studio with her daughter, where they worked side by side for fifteen years.

When Sonja was not working, she enjoyed art, crossword puzzles, music, especially old country gospel, the 50’s and 60’s, and she loved dancing. She enjoyed talking to people and putting a smile on everyone’s face that she encountered, always putting everyone else first. Sonja also loved her Lord and savior Jesus Christ unconditionally.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Larry Griesenbeck and Sonny Bailey; 3 brothers, Lloyd Dale Leavelle, Robert Verl Leavelle, and Vernon Doyle Leavelle.

Sonja is survived by her children, Carmen Bartosh and husband Dennis, Craig Bailey and wife Ronda, Stephanie Pivec and husband Jim, Stephen Griesenbeck and wife Annie, Suzanne Hill and husband Scott, and Shawn Bailey; brothers, Billy Gene Leavelle and wife Sandra and Benny Mac Leavelle and wife Sandy; sister, Linda Leavelle; 10 grandchildren, Mitchell Griesenbeck, Kristian Bailey, Gracie Bailey, Natalie Pivec, Alex Pivec, Jay Griesenbeck, Kaitlyn Griesenbeck, Zachary Hill, Jordan Hurley, and Ryan Hurley.

Memorials may be made to North Central Texas Alzheimer’s Association 2630 West Fwy # 100 Ft. Worth Texas 76102.