Sonja Tina Quier, 82, passed away peacefully Sept. 19 at Harney District Hospital, surrounded by family.

Sonja was born Feb. 26, 1938, in Burns to Robert and Evelyn Carlson. She attended kindergarten through the 12th grade in Burns, graduated from Burns High School in 1956 and married John P. Ebar. On Jan. 12, 1972, she married J.M. (Bill) Quier and spent her life doing what she loved, which was being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Her greatest joy was being a mother to her two sons, John and Joseph Ebar. Then came her next greatest joy of all time, that of being a grandma to her four grandchildren. Her grandkids would agree she was the best grandma in the world. She enjoyed knitting, doing puzzles, playing board games, and video games with her grandkids.

In her younger days, she loved ice skating and ballet dancing. Sonja also loved camping and fishing with her family. She never missed attending a sport or activity her grandkids were involved in. She was their cheerleader, consoler, conversationalist, fierce defender, and all-around mama bear. Her kids and grandkids were her life, and she loved them more than anything imaginable. She loved family gatherings, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and she took the time to make sure everything was perfect from the dishes to the polished silverware. Her family was the most important thing in her life, as she would drop everything and do anything for them. Her brother Gary’s memory of his big sister, Sonja, was her devotion to her family.

She was a member of the Daughters of the Nile. She was also very involved in all activities and fundraisers for the Al Kader Shriners Hospital for crippled children. She worked for United Telephone Company of the Northwest for about 15 years.

Sonja is survived by her husband of 48 years, J.M. (Bill) Quier; son, John P. Ebar Jr. and daughter-in-law, Rozanne; son, Joseph M. Ebar; brother, Gary Carlson and wife, Patsy; grandchildren, McKenzie and Mitchell Ebar, Christopher Rutledge, Michelle Murphy and husband, Sam; stepdaughter, Tonya; and cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Evelyn Carlson; brother, Robert Charles Carlson; and stepdaughter, Debbie Venator.

Funeral services for Sonja were held Sept. 26 at La Follette’s Chapel in Burns. Please make contributions in Sonja’s memory to the Portland Shriners Hospital, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel.