Sonya Lee Locke

Sonya Lee (Shupe) Locke died peacefully on May 20, 2026, at age 93 in Kirkland WA. She was born in San Jose, CA on September 28, 1932 to Gertrude Anderson and Clayton Leland Shupe. Sonya graduated from Garfield High School, Seattle, in the class of 1950. In 1971, she graduated in dental hygiene from Shoreline Community College. For many years she worked with Dr. Doug Smart near Northgate in Seattle. She was a courageous, loving person who raised five children while working full-time. After her retirement, Sonya expanded her lifelong world travel and volunteer work with young children. In Montessori school settings, she helped many children learn to read. She also was a committed sponsor to many in AA. Throughout her life, she was active in women’s issues and loved to read, especially Russian literature. She had a deep appreciation for beauty, from ballet and modern dance to architecture, music, art, sunset walks, and spring flowers. Into her nineties, she enjoyed Starbucks mochas, not to mention chocolate.

As the center of our family, Sonya will be dearly missed by her children by the deceased Sydney F Locke: Patricia Locke of Washington DC, Leslie (Locke) Richard (and husband Eldon) of Torrington WY, Syd Locke, Jr (and wife Jessica Ryan) of Olympia WA, Susan Locke of Kirkland WA, and Steven Locke of Lynnwood WA; her 6 grandchildren, Kristine Cheloha, Michael Coursey, Julia Coursey, Steven Locke II, Sydney Locke, Sahara Locke; and her great granddaughter Luna Clay Coursey. Her brother Mike Shupe (and wife Kay Shupe) of Anchorage AK will also miss the kind-hearted and determined woman we loved. She was preceded in death by her beloved brother Clayton A. Shupe.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:15 am on August 14, 2026, at St. Luke Catholic Church, 322 N 175th St, Shoreline, WA 98133. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Elizabeth Gregory Home, Seattle. https://eghseattle.org/ways-to-give/

Anything that matters

Anything that matters is here. Anything that will continue to matter in the next several thousand years will continue to be here. Approaching in the distance is the child you were some years ago. See her laughing as she chases a white butterfly.

---Joy Harjo