John Wayne, whom Sonny was a serious fan of by the way, once said… "Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday." For Sonny, this quote rang very true for him, for as a boy and a young man he learned many lessons from his upbringing which he carried through to his adult life. Edgar Joseph Houck was born in early autumn on September 6, 1934 in Holdenville, Oklahoma. His proud parents were Joseph and Marie and was he raised his only sibling, Betty. The family lived a fairly traditional farm life in Oklahoma, which meant lots of long days, lots of hard work and not a lot of money. Although Sonny's immediate family was small in number, the Houck and Mayfield Clan made up for it in the presence of aunts, uncles and cousins in the nearby area. When Betty and Sonny were very young, the nick names of "Son" and "Sis" were applied and as you can probably guess, the Son changed to Sonny and the nick name really stuck. Sonny was very close to his sister Betty. Through all the relentless teasing and joking he would have at her expense, he really did love her and looked out for her. Although the farm life was hard, he did have some good memories including that of picking corn and driving in his dad's old truck. When Sonny graduated High School he pretty much enlisted to the Navy same day. He was independent and ready for change and like most young people ready to leave home and try out life for himself. He was 18 when he started his many decades of service to our country. Initially he served at the end of the Korean War and ended up serving two tours in Vietnam. Sonny was always a very hyper organized and detailed person and this served him well in the Navy as he primarily worked in supply ships coordinating inventory and supplies for the crew. After 20 plus years and then some when counting his time in the Navy Reserves he officially retired. It truly is remarkable to think about all this man did for his country. He gave back and in a meaningful way. Jeanette and (as she called him) Eddie lived a fairly typical military life style. The family moved frequently from Portland, to Guam, to Maryland, to California and sometimes back forth multiple times. Jeanette stayed home with the kids and often times Eddie was gone long periods working on ships. Eddie was a good dad, a pretty strict military type, but he did try his best. For 35 plus years Sonny loved square dancing. He loved everything about it. The music, the people, the outfits. He would go all out. The hat, the scarf, the jeans, the boots, the belt, the belt buckle and of course, the hanky that would hang out of his back pocket. For years, he and Jeanette would go out almost every Friday and Saturday and Square Dance. Its where they socialized, relaxed and enjoyed life. Sonny always wanted to get his kids involved in this hobby, but it never really took with any of them. He would teach classes and always volunteer to dance with newcomers. His passion for square dancing and all things country western continued in his devotion to tv shows such as Stanford and Sons, Hee Haw and the music reviews from the Grand Ol' Oprey. As time went on, Jeanette and Eddie went on different paths and ended their marriage. After his retirement from the Navy, he found work with the Oklahoma State Patrol in their Inventory Department and worked there for several years. He enjoyed being back in his old stomping grounds and close to his extended family. Sonny was always a very social person, charming and a bit of a flirt. He loved talking to women and always found a way to compliment a lady and if she gave him her hand to shake he always would give the back of her hand a delicate kiss. He exuded a type of southern charm that made him an easy companion to chat with. He seemed to have no filter during certain social situations and this would often become apparent when he would , for example, give a total stranger a high five. He approached life with a sincere attitude of interest that became even more refined as he became older. Sonny was exceptional at keeping in touch with acquaintances. He would write lengthy letters and always acknowledge milestones or events with cards. He remained close with several people from his Navy days and always attended the reunion parties for the ships, no matter where they were held. After living in Oklahoma for a time, Sonny decided he want to be closer with his children and moved to Portland. They all enjoyed a re-bonding of sorts as a family and redefined their relationships as adult children and parents. Sonny was special at his role as a grandpa and always seems to outdo himself at Christmas with his holiday letters and gift cards. He always gave Sears gift cards to his grandkids and he had an elaborate system based on the grandchild's age and marital status to determine how much that Sear Gift card would be. Several years ago his kids noticed that he was having some struggles with memory and taking care of himself. They delicately balanced the maneuver to his transition into assisted living, and although Sonny would probably never admit it…he loved in his new home. He had access to friends and social activities and there was so much help to keep him looked after. Plus, there were nurses to flirt with. On April 3, he peacefully passed away surrounded by the love of his family. He truly will be a man remembered for his passion, his discipline and of course his charm. He is predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Marie, and sister Betty Burns. He is survived by his children: Debra, Anthony, Shawn and Lisa; six grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.