Sonona Gail Teinert, 76, of Albany died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 in an Abilene hospital surrounded by family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Friendship Baptist Church in Albany with Paul Johnston officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Thursday at the church. Burial will follow in the Albany Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Howard Funeral Home of Clyde.

Sonona was born Nov. 27, 1941 in Albany to Rush Duncan and Anna Lea (Childers) Leech. She graduated from Albany High School and was a lifelong resident of the Albany area.

Sonona was the owner of the Icehouse Restaurant in Albany for 24 years and she opened the Beehive Restaurant, selling it in 1974.

Nonie, as she was known to many, was a co-founder of Texas Trails Chuckwagon catering company which became synonymous with BBQ from a chuckwagon. It was a wildly successful family business that took her and her family on many adventures, from Fandangle BBQ on the courthouse square in Albany to West Texas trail rides to San Antonio Folklife Festivals to Neiman Marcus Fort Night Events and all the way to Camp David. She catered for three U.S. Presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and Lyndon Johnson, and also Mexican President Lopez Portillo. And she kept us laughing the whole way through.

Sonona was also an avid bridge player and an enthusiast for traveling to Mexico, both beachside and interior where she loved to collect Mexican coco folk masks, most of which are on display at the IceHouse Restaurant.

Throughout her life she loved to always be present and support her children and grandchildren in their many activities. She was a life-long member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.

She is survived by her son John Teinert of Austin; two daughters, Cathy Rupp and Melissa Williams and husband Bobby, all of Albany; brother Bud Leech and wife Gayla of Albany; sister Sylvia Atwell of Tuscola; four grandchildren, Jake Williams and wife Deidra, Jesse Williams, Mati Rupp and Matthew Rupp; and two great grandchildren, Zoey George and Anna Williams.

Sonona was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Old Jail Art Center - Albany.