Sondra "Sondie" Jean Houlton

Sondra “Sondie” Jean (Booth) Houlton, age 87 of Mio, Michigan, passed away peacefully at The Brook of Grayling on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

Sondie was born in Mio, Michigan on May 20, 1939 to George and Faye (Smith) Booth. She attended Mio AuSable School and graduated as Valedictorian with the Class of 1957. Sondie attended Anderson College for one year before marrying her high school sweetheart and husband of 68 years, Jim Houlton, on July 26, 1958. A loving and doting wife, mother, and grandma, Sondie was also a dedicated public servant. She was elected Elmer Township Treasurer in 1970, serving for 10 years. Later Sondie went to work as a deputy Clerk for Oscoda County in 1980 and subsequently was elected to the position of Oscoda County Clerk, serving 12 years before retiring. Even in retirement she continued to serve on several State & local appointed boards and commissions. A devote Christian and defender of Creation, she was a regular fixture at the Mio Church of God, playing the piano, accompanied by her sister Pauline Cournyer at the organ for some 50 plus years. In her later years, she would fill in at the piano for the Mio Baptist Church. She was an accomplished seamstress, sewing her own wedding dress as well as clothes and pajamas for her family into her 80’s. Sondie was also a master baker. In addition to countless blue ribbon muffins, rolls, cookies and pies, she baked and decorated hundreds of birthday, retirement and wedding cakes with much skill and love. Along with many other interests, she enjoyed traveling the country with Jim to visit family and classmates and trips abroad to Russia and the Holy Land.

Sondie is survived by her husband James “Jim” Houlton; her sister Colleen (Ron) Solak; her son Dave (Rosanna) Houlton, grandson Harry and granddaughter Sarah; her son Timbre (Deanna) Houlton, granddaughter Tamera Captain, grandson Francis (Natalie) Captain, granddaughter Autumn (Cole) Cantu, granddaughter Krystal (Ryan) Birk and grandson Melvin Captain; her son Luke (Linda) Houlton; her daughter Amy (Mike) Roeder, grandson David (Jessica) Roeder, grandson Matthew Roeder, granddaughter Rachel (Jordan) Maxey and granddaughter Abby Roeder; her son Danny (Debby) Houlton, granddaughter Amber (Ryan) Nugent and granddaughter Breon (Gaired) Fressadi; 17 great grandchildren along with numerous nieces and nephews. Sondie was preceded in death by her parents: George & Faye Booth, her stepmother Thelma Booth, her sister and brother-in-law Pauline and Jack Cournyer, and her daughter Ramona “Moni” Houlton.

Visitation on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 from 3 -7 PM at the Lashley Funeral Home, Mio, MI, and also on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 from 10 AM – 11 AM, at Mio Baptist Church, with Funeral Services at 11 AM with Pastor Glynn McMorris officiating. Interment at Kittle Cemetery, Mio, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Sondie’s honor to: Answers in Genesis, PO Box 510, Hebron, KY 41048, www.answersingenesis.org/donate or The Institute for Creation Research, 1806 Royal Lane, Dallas TX 75229 www.icr.org/donate.

Arrangements by Lashley Funeral Home, Mio, Mi.