Sonja Jean Cheney was born on July 10th, 1940 in Coryell County Texas to William and Laura Melton. After living a while in Hobbs New Mexico and Dallas Texas as a teen, she moved to Houston with her family. It was there she met W.E. "Buddy" Cheney who was in the auto auction business. Not only did she fall in love with Buddy, Sonja also fell in love with the auto auction business. They married in January of 1960 and she began her career in the auction business. After having three sons, Buddy, Ronnie and Tracy, they moved the family to Magnolia in 1967. In 1977 they opened Conroe Auto Auction where the three sons were put to work in the family business. While she loved the Auction business, the most important thing to her was her family.

Sonja had four brothers, Ron Melton, Bob Melton, Berry Appling Ill and Ricky Appling. Three sons, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She loved spending time with them all, along with her cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Not to mention countless friends along the way.

In February of 1992, Sonja, along with her youngest son, Tracy, opened Montgomery County Auto Auction, which they operated together. Her passion for the business was obvious. She worked long hours, day and night and loved every minute. She loved that auction. She loved her customers, she loved her employees and they loved her. After she retired in 2007, she focused on her grandkids and family. She also loved to read and loved gardening, planting and tending to countless plants, flowers and fruit trees in her yard.

Sonja was preceded in death by her father, William "Dink" Melton, her mother Laura Hart Appling, her step father, Berry Appling Jr, her brothers, Ron and Rickey and her husband W.E. "Buddy" Cheney.

She is survived by her son Buddy Alan Cheney and his wife Teresa, son Ronald William Cheney and his wife Bonnie, son Tracy Melton Cheney and his wife Moira. Grandchildren, Brandy Lee Thomas, Dennis Thomas and his wife Kelly, Emily Jean Bridwell and her husband Aaron, Kate Lynn Cheney, Connor Milan Cheney and Trader MacMillen Cheney. Seven great grandchildren, cousin Karen June Miller and several other cousins she loved spending time with, along with two special friends, Michael Batiste and Ethel Stewart.

Sonja had countless friends that she loved dearly. She truly cared about people and it showed. The loyalty she shared with many of her friends was truly amazing. If she was your friend, you knew you could always count on Sonja.

Services will be held at 10:00am Friday May 7th at Klein Funeral Home, 14711 FM 1488, Magnolia, Texas.