Milton Oliver "Sonny" Trayer

Milton Oliver “Sonny” Trayer, 86, took his last breath on Saturday, May 10 with his beautiful and loving wife with him. He was born in Tarkio, MO on June 4, 1938, to Willis and Hallie Trayer. On May 16th, 1943, he had a sister and took great pleasure introducing her as his “baby sister” and loved her dearly. He graduated from Ainsworth High School in Ainsworth Nebraska in 1957. While in high school Sonny worked in a grocery store for $0.50/hour. After high school the family moved from Nebraska to Farmington, NM where Sonny began working for Barbers (now Smiths) from checker to manager. Milton spent most of his life in retail management not only with Barbers but also with Gibson’s working in Albuquerque, Farmington, Durango, White Rock and Santa Fe.

On December 26, 1959, Milton married the love of his life, Darlene (their marriage license was lost in the snow for a few weeks). Sonny and Darlene had three daughters Paula, Pamela, and Patrice. Ten years later, their only son, Phillip joined the family while living in Oklahoma where Sonny and Darlene owned and operated a countryside grocery store with a meat market at Porterhill, Oklahoma. Sonny taught Paula how to cut meat during those few years, but she still cannot cut up a chicken today.

After closing the grocery store, Milton went to work for Brown and Root in Lawton and when that job ended the family moved back to Farmington where he went to work for Western Co. On April 12, 1988, Sonny was burned over 50% of his body with second and third degree burns. Every day since then Milton considered every breath, and every day spent with family and friends a gift and blessing from GOD and due to that he spent as much time with his family, friends, and at church as possible.

Spending time with the grandkids and great-grandchildren, attending games, performances, graduations, being there for them and visiting, even sometimes when it included road trips out of state. Watching the entertainment and finding good deals at auctions. Going to and putting on his own yard sales. Sharing the newspaper, and his love for Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune. He introduced them to the appreciation of tradition. Attending the Bar D. Sunday dinners and showing them how to set the table the correct way. Summers camping in Colorado, which often included having them help get the camper cleaned, loaded with all the essentials, connected to the truck and then set up onsite.

(Little did they know how much he was teaching them.)

When the kids would start talking about what they wanted for Christmas before November and instead of telling them it was too early to be talking about Christmas he would tell them it was time to start getting ready for it and have them get to work checking all of the Christmas lights so they could set them up and then ending that one Sunday dinner getting the young guys to put the big star up. It brought him joy putting smiles on the family and Farmington community faces. By putting up Christmas lights, it looks brighter than the 4th of July. Making and sending out enough cookies and fudge for everyone to have enough to share and bless others if they chose and even making some without nuts for those of us picky people. Being the funniest person in the room. Or simply by accepting you for who you are and always wanting the best for you. He just enjoyed people…(and his afternoon nap). If you knew the same people as him, he would always ask how each person was doing and remember what you told him because he cared and was paying attention. He would hardly let you leave without a hug and a “Stay out of trouble”.

Milton is preceded in death by his son-in-law Chris Hendley, and parents Willis and Hallie Trayer.

He is survived by his loving wife Darlene Trayer, son Phillip (Aubrey) Trayer, daughters Paula (Wayne) Vaughan, Pamela Hendley, and Patrice (Steve) Olsen, sister Francis Hanhardt, grandchildren Alyssa (Bryan) Herrington, David (Heidi) Hendley, Justin Vaughan, Adam (Meghan) Hendley, Brittney Olsen, Alexis Morrison, Sara (Jesse) Bassett, Aaron Hendley, Shylene Goosey, and Claire Olsen, great-grandchildren Katrina, Kourtney-Kay, Dominic, Lucy, Kolby, Jaxson, BellaFaye, Levi Herrington; Lyla Hendley and Wilks and Harlow Bassett and special family members Dennis and Sue Robinson and Andy Robinson.

A visitation will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday May 17, 2025, at Farmington Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow at 12:00 PM. Burial will be held at Greenlawn Cemetery. Followed by a reception at Bethany Christian Church.

Pallbearers are Phillip Trayer, Justin Vaughan, Richard Robinson, David Hendley, Aaron Hendley, and Charley Grubbs. 

Memorials/donations may be made to: In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice.