Sonja Lee Cahill, 70, of Sweet Home passed away Tuesday. She was born in Newport to Hilmer and Mabel (Duncan) Schmidt.

In 1997, Sonja moved to Sweet Home where she met the love of her life, Richard Cahill. They married May 3, 2003. She loved traveling in their RV all over Oregon; fishing, watching wildlife, and enjoying life with her husband. One of their favorite fishing spots was Duncan Reservoir. “Buger Bear” was her nickname given by her husband and he was happy as long as she was with him.

Sonja is survived by: her husband, Richard Cahill of Sweet Home; children, Cindy Girard of Albany, Tim Ebarb or Pacific City and Monica Collett of Pacific City, DeAnna McCullough of Salem, DiAnna Weaver of Tangent, and Dean Ebarb of Newberg; stepchildren, Rick Cahill and Rhonda Nelson; brothers, Hilmer Jr. Schmidt of Philomath, LeRoy Schmidt and Larry Schmidt of Albany, and Pete Schmidt of McMinnville; 18 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mabel Schmidt (1976), and father Hilmer Schmidt (2002).

Memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 27, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. A gathering to remember Sonja will take place at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, July 19, at her home in Sweet Home.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.