Dates
On November 3, 1943, Sondra Aileen Nicks was born at the old Shannon Hospital to Gerald and Ruth Nicks of Sonora, Texas and died on November 1, 2026.
At a later date, a family graveside gathering will be held at the Eldorado Cemetery. As a preteen, Granddaddy Nicks would take her there to teach her to drive a stick shift pickup and to tell her stories about the people buried here. The Nicks family had come to the area in the late 19th century in a covered wagon, flanked by their flock of sheep. The family settled in Schleicher and Sutton counties to ranch.
Graduating from Sonora High School in three and a half years, attending San Angelo College, and graduating from Southwest Texas State University, Sondra earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from SWTSU and a Master's Degree in Supervision of Reading from Angelo State University. Even as a child Sondra knew she would be a teacher, following in the footsteps of her mother, two aunts, and other relatives and family friends. Sondra was anxious to provide for herself and begin to make a difference in the lives of children.
In 1967, Sondra married Jack Orr, and they taught for thirty years in Texas public schools. Sondra and Jack were the parents of two children, Rhonda and Jay who enriched Sondra's life and kept her busy with their activities. She was often a 'Team Mom', scorekeeper, fundraiser chairman, cheerleading sponsor, and chauffeur to sports and UIL activities. She wore a variety of hats, and she enjoyed each one of them. When life got too busy, Sondra found respite in her patio decorated with beautiful flowers and ornate concrete statues. Later in life, her interests included creating stained glass creations and designing and piecing beautiful quilts.
Sondra was an advocate of life long learning, whether traveling, leading various organizations, or plying her teaching skills. She rode in a hot air balloon, worked in a daycare, traveled in Europe, snow boarded and participated in dog sledding in the Rocky Mountains, embraced scuba diving in Cozumel, accepted the position of adjunct professor in the education department at Angelo State University teaching reading classes and supervising student teachers, and served as an officer in Desk & Derrick, Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading, and Concho Valley Retired Teachers and Associates. She was always an active member of the organizations she chose to join.
Sondra was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald and Ruth Nicks; a brother, James Bryan Nicks; and former husband, Jack Orr.
Survivors include her daughter Rhonda of Christoval, Texas; her son, Jay and wife Renée and grandson, Jack Henry of San Angelo, Texas; brother Philip Nicks and Rex Ezell of Austin, Texas; and cousin, Jerry Johnson and wife Nancy of Sonora, Texas. Extended surviving members include Warren Orr and wife Darcy and Bruce Orr of Powderly, Texas and the Becky and Pat Young family of Sumner, Texas.
If you wish to honor Sondra's memory, please donate books to children, schools, or daycare facilities.