Sonya Scarff Obituary & Funeral | Kalamazoo, MI | Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes (2024)

When reflecting on the full life of Sonya Scarff, it is easy to see both her unwavering strength and her unconditional love for her family. She served as a shining example of kindness and generosity, and her solid work ethic formed the foundation of her life. Nothing brought Sonya greater joy than spending time with her family and friends, no matter how simple the moments were. Her unshakeable faith, compassion, and kindness could be felt by all those around her. Deeply loved, Sonya will be forever held close to the hearts of those who knew her best.

The early 1930s are remembered as a time of great turmoil and struggle for the United States. The Great Depression was in full swing, and many families across the country pulled together to make ends meet and thrive, even in their time of need. During these dark years, however, there was a ray of light for Delbert and Desdelora (Cherry) Nims of Adrian, Michigan, as they eagerly awaited the arrival of their baby. On September 25, 1934, they welcomed their daughter, who they named Sonya, into the world.

Growing up, Sonya was a typical girl of her generation in many ways. She was raised in the family home alongside her brothers, Thomas, and Peter. Sonya’s father, Delbert, was a football coach at Adrian College, and Sonya loved to be involved with the team. She would sit on the bench with the players during their games, and she even had her own helmet. Sonya nurtured a great love for the outdoors from a young age, and much of her childhood was spent camping. The Nims family visited Yellowstone National Park, Washington D.C., and various locations in Northern Michigan. Sonya’s life was forever changed by the outbreak of WWII, but she and her family worked hard to support the war effort. They collected cooking fat in tin cans, ran paper drives, and peeled tin off gum wrappers, and they cared for their own “victory garden.” At the end of the war, Sonya received a “victory bike” on her birthday. On Sunday nights, the family listened to “The Hit Parade” on the radio together. They would buy a newspaper each week so that they could sing along.

Throughout her childhood, Sonya attended local schools and loved every minute of her experience. She looked forward to the start of school in the fall every year. Saddle shoes, bobby socks, skirts, and sweaters were the fashion of the day. During high school, Sonya was active in both Future Teachers and Student Council. Following her graduation, she went on to attend Hanover College in Indiana. While there, Sonya was a member of Alpha Delta Pi and Christian Youth. She began pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse and after taking her pre-nursing classes at Hanover, she attended Christ Hospital School of Nursing in Cincinnati. Though nursing could be demanding, Sonya was determined to succeed and build a career that allowed her to serve others.

Sonya first met the man who would become the love of her life in middle school. His name was Ted Scarff, and he asked her to go on a picnic. Sonya told him no. A few years later, Sonya later asked him to the Sadie Hawkins Dance where they won the best corsage contest. Ted worked at a meat market, and the corsage was made of radishes and a small dead fish in the middle! Needless to say, the rest was history. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Sonya and Ted were married on June 1, 1957, just a month after Sonya graduated from nursing school.

All who knew Sonya can surely agree that, of all the things she loved in life, she treasured her family above all else. She and Ted were overjoyed to welcome their beloved children, Matthew, Benjamin, Sarah, and Joseph, into their hearts and home. Sonya thrived in her role as a mother, and she went above and beyond to care for and raise her children. The Scarff family enjoyed summer vacations taking trips, spending time on Indian Lake, and making yearly trips to Indiana to visit friends who owned a large farm. Holidays were important to Sonya and were spent with family and friends. Later in life, Sonya was thrilled to become a grandmother and great-grandmother. She adored her grandchildren and doted on them whenever she could, and she was very involved in their lives. Sonya always considered herself blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

Sonya’s career was much more than a job. She had a true passion for nursing and helping others. Sonya spent much of her career working in hospitals and nursing homes, and she even taught nursing at Shawnee Community College for some time. She was a natural caregiver, and her servant’s heart allowed her to pour her compassion into her patients and those she cared for. Sonya was also the administrator of Total Living Center Kalamazoo, and she served as director of Center for Disability Services at Western Michigan University, where she found great joy in working with the disabled community. She was very proud of and passionate about her role, and she was instrumental in the development of WMU’s Senior Day Services. Sonya was constantly searching for ways to serve her patients and those in her community. Following retirement, Sonya volunteered for many years at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

Never one to sit still for long, Sonya liked to stay active. Her favorite activity was going to her grandsons’ many football, basketball, and baseball games. She was an avid fan of the Detroit Lions and loved attending the games. Sonya enjoyed spending time with friends playing cards, bingo, rummikub, and doing puzzles. She and Ted loved traveling around the country with their grandkids. Gulf Shores was Sonya’s favorite location to visit. She enjoyed dining out, especially at Fieldstone Grill, Fricano’s, and Four Roses in Plainwell. Sonya and Ted lived on Crooked Lake for many years and greatly enjoyed having family and friends visit and spend time on the lake.

As family and friends can certainly attest, Sonya Scarff truly understood the secret to a life well lived. She was a constant source of strength, especially throughout the many moves the family went through during Ted’s career. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Sonya was a friend to many and beloved by all she met. She was always willing to serve others, and her primary focus in life was building deep and personal relationships with those around her. Though she will be dearly missed, Sonya leaves behind a priceless legacy that her loved ones will be proud to carry on in her footsteps.

Sonya Scarff died on June 7, 2024. Preceding her in death are her husband, Ted; her son, Benjamin Scarff; and her brother, Thomas Nims. Surviving are her children: Matt (Colleen) Scarff, Sarah (Joe) Curry, and Joseph Scarff; grandchildren: Maureen (John) Sterbling, Jennifer (Jesse) Godbold, Patricia (Brandon McKei) Scarff, Aubrey (Phil DeJarden) Scarff, Benton (Chloe) Scarff, Raymond (Christin) Scarff, Lauren Curry, Timothy Scarff, Andrew (Grace Turner) Scarff, Adam Curry, Kyle (Zach) Engen, Rachael (Jack Wagner) Scarff, Alekzander Scarff, Troy Scarff, Brennan Lewis, Logan Lewis, Connor Lewis, and Quinlan Lewis; great-grandchildren: Josephine, Claire, Sonya, Noora, and Stewart; her brother, Peter (Nancy) Nims; and many nieces and nephews.

A Life Story Service will be held Thursday, June 13th at 11 AM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo 269-375-2900. A reception with food and drinks will follow in the Life Story Center. Burial at Mt. Ever Rest Memorial Park. Celebrate Sonya’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries.