Aloyis Lee Sonneborn passed away Feb. 21, 2014, her 85th birthday. She now rests in perpetual peace and happiness with her long-lost family, friends and beloved husband, Harry J. Sonneborn.
She was born Feb. 21, 1929 in Mobile County. Aloyis attended the Convent of Visitation School and Mobile County Public Schools.
She was a successful, independent, self-made woman. She was a commercial real estate broker and an astute businesswoman. She held a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.
Her strongest business assets were her honesty and loyalty.
It was through her real estate career she met and later married Harry J. Sonneborn of the McDonald's Corp. For many years they split their time between his home in Chicago and her beloved place on Fowl River. Together they traveled the world on adventures and amassed collections of historical documents, literature and art.
Eventually they returned to her Southern heritage and made their home on a grand Fowl River estate named ALYSON. She was a charming and gracious hostess as they frequently entertained their numerous friends.
She was a lady of distinction and style, and understood the value of friendship. She possessed friends of all ages and backgrounds, and cared about them more for their character than their station in life.
She was an avid outdoorsman and hunted and fished all over the world, but her favorite place to do so was Fowl River. She could shoot a limit of dove or quail in the morning and prepare a gourmet meal that night for her guests.
She was a voracious reader and never shied away from a lively debate, especially when discussing conservative politics, current events or world history.
She held numerous honorary degrees from a variety of institutions of higher learning.
Aloyis was petite in stature, but large in spirit. She always loved nature and living on the water, and in recent years spent many happy hours in her home on Ono Island. She loved her island friends and with them enjoyed bird watching, seeing the Blue Angels and cruising local waters.
Aloyis always said, “If I die tomorrow life owes me nothing, it's been a grand ride.”
Aloyis’ main passion was philanthropic work; she was exceedingly generous with her time and was a giving soul who shared her good fortune with others. She made this world a better place with her contributions to education, health, music, arts, theater and athletics.
She served on charitable boards too numerous to list, but was particularly proud of being the longtime chairwoman of the Historic Blakely Foundation.
She positively affected many lives with her boundless generosity. Recently she established the Harry J. and Aloyis L. Sonneborn Charitable Foundation Trust. This foundation will provide need-based scholarships for Mobile area students.
Education was a passion of hers, and she will continue to affect lives even after her death.
She was preceded in death by her parents, General and Mary Lee; and her sisters, Juanita Lee and Doris Lee Davis.
She is survived by numerous relatives and friends.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on March 8, 2014 at Pine Crest Cemetery, 1939 Dauphin Island Pkwy. in Mobile.
A celebration of life for her family and friends will be held at 5 p.m. on March 8, 2014 at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear.
Aloyis, from, all of your friends and loved ones, thank you for letting us be a part of your life. We will miss your grace, charm and sophistication; you are irreplaceable so we say farewell but not goodbye.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Harry J. and Aloyis L. Sonneborn Foundation Trust, Trustmark Bank, 107 St. Francis St., Mobile, AL 36602.
Arrangements by Pine Crest Funeral Home, Mobile.
