Sonia Speakman

Sonia Elaine Speakman (n. Patterson) passed away Sunday, May 25, 2025, at age 91. 

Born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, Sonia grew up with her brother William (Bill) S. Patterson, Jr., in the loving care of their mother, LaVon A. Patterson, and grandmother, Ida J. Marty. From an early age, Sonia adored the things that make life beautiful: art, fashion, home decor and furnishings, antiques, and flowers. She gained two more of her greatest loves at The Ohio State University: her husband, Rick, and the Buckeyes Football team.

Sonia devotedly raised three children, caring for their family as they moved throughout the Midwest before settling in Grand Rapids, where she would remain the rest of her life. It was here that Sonia built her estate sale business from the ground up, spending 35 years more-than-earning her reputation as an expert in her craft, someone who would not just sell you something at a fair price but who would teach you about the item’s history as well. Her last estate sale started on October 28, 2008, in the Heritage Hill area of Grand Rapids.

Those who knew Sonia best will remember her for her poise, stories that exemplified a keen sense of humor, her incredible gift-giving skills, and a lifelong passion for the original Coca-Cola recipe, which was discontinued in 1985. After that marketing disaster, Sonia selected Cherry Coke as the only reasonable substitute (never diet, none of that grenadine stuff, please, and Pepsi… no thank you).

In death, Sonia is reunited with her husband, Richard T. Speakman, as well as her mother, grandmother, brother, and dog, Woody. She will be dearly missed by her children, Sheree (Gary), Dawn (Randy), and Craig, her sister-in-law Karen (Ken) as well as her grandchildren, Justin (Dallas), Morgan, Emma (John), Krista (Jeffrey), and great-grandchildren Wyatt, Cole, and Annabelle, plus countless friends and neighbors.

Sonia lived for her last five years at Beacon Hill (at Eastgate), where she was surrounded by loving care and visitors. She will be laid to rest in a private burial on Friday, May 30, and a memorial service will be held on July 25, 2025, at 11:00 am at Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home. In place of flowers, donations may be made in Sonia’s memory to the Beacon Hill Foundation (Grand Rapids, MI) or the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

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