Oliver Ambrose "Sonney" Helton, of rural Dixon, was born on May 30, 1941, in Maries County, a son of Raymond Walter and Dessie Elzada (Thompson) Helton, and departed this life at 1:31 p.m., on Thursday, June 18, 2015, in the Lake Regional Health System, Osage Beach. Sonney had been in failing health since 2011 and had attained the age of 74 years and 18 months.

Sonney was united in marriage on August 6, 1960, at Vienna, to Janet Lorraine Workman, and to this union, three children were born. He was preceded in death by one son, Johnnie DeWayne Helton, on January 8, 1961; his father, Raymond, in 1975; his mother, Dessie, in 2008; one brother, Bud Helton; and three sisters, Evelyn Workman, Lola Hollis, and Lorene Lambert.

Sonney grew up attending the Lambeth Assembly of God Church near Vienna. He had worked as a supervisor at Waddell Concrete in Eureka, Missouri, but mostly worked in construction, driving a dump truck and as a logger. Sonney enjoyed hunting, fishing, hard work, cutting wood, and could fix almost anything.

Those left to mourn the passing of Sonney include: his wife of almost 55 years, Janet Helton, of the home in rural Dixon; two sons and daughters-in-law, Danny and Brenda Helton, Dixon, and Kenny and Teresa Helton, Crocker; six grandchildren, Chris (Trista) Helton, Tuscumbia; Catie (Beau) Travis, Monroe Louisiana; Tierany Tobiasz, Lee's Summit; Emily Helton, Tuscumbia; Tanner Tobiasz, Iberia; and Abigail Helton, Crocker; four great-grandchildren, Halle Helton and Hayden Helton both of Tuscumbia; and Rylee Travis and Isabella Travis both of Monroe, Louisiana; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 12:00 Noon, on Monday, June 22, 2015, in the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes with the Rev. Virgil C. Dennis, pastor of the Curry Community Church, Iberia, officiating.

Private burial was be in the Rader Cemetery, near Vienna, under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.