Sonya N. Seely Redd, “Sunny,” was born on December 19, 1938, in Price, the oldest child of Lowry Singleton Seely and Gwen Geddes Nielson. Two younger brothers completed the family: David Ray and Lowry Geddes.
Sunny grew up on a cattle and sheep ranch south of Craig, Colorado. She graduated early from high school and attended Brigham Young University in Provo and, in 1960, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business education and office management with a minor in accounting and economics. Sunny always loved teaching and taught English at North Cache High School in Logan, Utah.
In 1977, Sunny began a Masters of Education program and in the summer of 1981 she took 8 of her children to BYU to complete it. She put her advanced degree to work by serving on the San Juan County School Board for many years, some as president. In addition, she served on the boards of the Utah Endowment for the Humanities and Earth Science Education.
Sunny met Charles Hardison Redd in 1959 at the Colorado Wool Growers Convention in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Hardy had just returned from an LDS mission in Uruguay and attended with his parents. Sunny’s mother had entered her in the Miss Wool of Colorado contest and she was there as a finalist. A courtship ensued while both lived in Cache Valley working and attending school. On September 2, 1960, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple.
Hardy and Sunny settled in La Sal after Hardy completed his education at Utah State University in 1961. They lived in and served the community for the next 62 years until Sunny’s death on August 18, 2022.
While at BYU, Sunny took up alpine skiing and developed a passion for it. She taught skiing at Timp Haven (Sundance), Brighton Resort and was certified as an instructor in1960. She started the first official ski school at Beaver Mountain, was director for one year, and then taught at Blue Mountain Ski Area in Monticello for 14 years. She pursued her love of skiing into her seventies and instilled this passion in many of her children and grandchildren.
In 1964, Sunny began her love affair with Lake Powell shortly after the Glen Canyon Dam was completed and the lake started filling. She made many trips with kids in tow each summer to enjoy the beautiful red rocks, glassy water and sun-filled days. A dream came true in 1992 when she purchased a share in a 70-foot houseboat which she captained and filled with family, friends, adventure and fun. If it was summer and Sunny wasn’t home, she could probably be found at Lake Powell.
She graciously welcomed into her heart and home many of those in need of love and refuge. With 7 children at home, she embraced the opportunity to mother twin Navajo infants. After being fostered for 5 years, Beverly and Benjamin were officially adopted, sealed and became her own children, demonstrating her immense capacity for love, generosity and sacrifice.
Sunny accepted many opportunities to serve in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She cherished her testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.
Sunny exemplified many qualities and characteristics that drew many to her: She was optimistic, cheerful, adventurous, forgiving, outgoing, frugal, generous, faithful, Christlike, resilient, persistent, patient, fearless, determined, confident, intelligent, supportive, charitable and empathetic. She was everything, but above all she was grace. These attributes were on display to the very end.
Hardy and Sunny raised 10 children: Charles Hardison Jr. (Barbara), Natasha Dawn Tilley (Robert), Robin Annaley Clegg (Lane), Gwenaley Redd Hardy (Blain), Nicole Clark, Justus Lowry (Brittany), Carlie Felice Lowe (Damon), Beverly Jones Trevizo (Luis), Benjamin Jones (1978-1982) and Christian Preston Randolph (McKell). They are blessed with 37 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Sunny is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Geddes, her son Benjamin and grandson Emilio.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 24 at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS chapel in La Sal. The family will be available to visit prior to the services from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Interment to follow immediately after services at the La Sal Cemetery.
Funeral services will also be available for live-streaming at pictureitpalmer.comYou may send condolences to the family at www.spanishvalleymortuary.com.
