Hobart - Byron Allen "Sonny" Hetherington, passed Nov. 7, 2025, at the age of 84, surrounded by his family.

Sonny was born March 22, 1941, to Lonzo Hetherington and Helen Dacus Hetherington, in Hobart, Oklahoma. Weighing only two pounds at birth, his parents drove him to St. Anthony's Hospital in Oklahoma City nestled in a shoebox with a heated brick. He graduated from Hobart High School in 1959. In 1962, married his high school sweetheart, Gloria Bish. The following year, Sonny earned a degree in Business Education from Southwestern State College before joining the Air Force. His service took him to Laredo, Texas, and later Chicago, Illinois, where he worked as a Recruiter. Sonny and Gloria welcomed their daughter Michelle in 1967, and their son Marc in 1970.

After his military service, Sonny returned to Hobart to manage Duty Packers, the family business. Through legislation, Sonny helped Oklahoma small meat packing plants by securing funds for state meat inspection. He worked with the Oklahoma State University Animal Science department to create a new meat lab that helps small food industry businesses develop and improve their products. In 1989, Sonny and Gloria founded Hetherington Specialties, packaging cheese and crafting specialty sausages. He concluded his career as an Oklahoma State Meat Inspector.

Sonny's grandfather and role model picked him up on Sundays to take him to Sunday school and church. This foundation made Sonny disciplined in his faith. Sonny spent his mornings reading the Bible and drinking coffee at the kitchen table. Sonny was passionate, caring deeply for his faith, family and Oklahoma State Cowboys. Sonny loved cheering on the Cowboys, holding football season tickets since the 1970s, creating memories and family traditions that last to this day. Sonny's encouraging nature shined through his words when speaking about his family, often using phrases like "wonderful," "amazing" and "the very best." As a history buff, Sonny shared favorite historical facts with his family as they traveled across all 50 states. He enjoyed water skiing and vacationing at many Oklahoma lakes.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents Lonzo Hetherington and Helen Hetherington Duty; his stepfather Alvin Duty; grandparents Byron and Evelyn Dacus and Alonzo and Buna Hetherington.

He is survived by his wife Gloria Bish Hetherington; children: Michelle (Ron) Martin, Marc (Tamara) Hetherington; grandchildren: Kelcey (Daniel) Jordan, Savannah (Anthony) Molinar, Krystin (Ryan) Turney, Dylan Hetherington, Ryan (Lexie) Hetherington; great-grandchildren: Liam and Chase Turney, Henry Jordan and many more loving family members.

Services will take place at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 15, 2025, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Duncan, Oklahoma and visitation will be prior to the service at 11 a.m.

In memory donations may be made to St. Paul's UMC in Duncan, Oklahoma or First Christian Church, Hobart, Oklahoma.