Letcher Nathaniel "L.N." (or "Sonny") Sikes of Huntsville, Texas entered into God's Kingdom on September 18, 2023. He was born on July 8, 1933 to L.N. and Helen Sikes. After Sonny graduated from Mexia High School in 1951, he went on to study agriculture at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), where he received his Bachelor of Science in 1955 and Master of Education in 1957. During his time at SHSU, Sikes was a member of the rodeo team where he won four national titles during his years as a collegiate cowboy.

Sonny married high school sweetheart Joanne (Nussbaum) Sikes in Waco, Texas on September 4, 1954. They had two children, Sherri and Larry.

After graduating college, Sonny moved back to Mexia where he taught public school for one year, but his desire to ensure Sam Houston's rodeo program would continue to lead him back to Huntsville. In 1959, he called Dr. Lowman, the President of SHSU at the time, and told him, "If you hire me, I'll bring enough students to pay my salary." Sonny came to SHSU where he taught and coached the rodeo team for more than 40 years, retiring as a professor in 1997, and rodeo coach a couple years later.

During this time, he coached the SHSU rodeo teams to 8 national team titles and many individual championships—more than any other National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) school. His tenure reaped hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for SHSU, built three rodeo arenas with little or no cost to the university, and constructed a rodeo team that possessed one of the best win records of any college or university in the nation.

Though a relatively small man in stature, his (cowboy) boots will be virtually impossible to fill.  In addition to the rodeo team's legacy, Sonny served as Executive Secretary for The NIRA for 18 years and, together with Joanne, led the association during its growth. He also established the SHSU Rodeo Alumni Association, which provides scholarships to SHSU students, and was a member of the Texas Association of College Teachers. He was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1999 and the future SHSU rodeo site will feature the Sonny Sikes Arena and the Rodeo Hall of Champions, established in honor of Sonny and Joanne Sikes.

A staple in the local community, Sonny served on the Huntsville School Board for six years, was a lifetime member of the Walker Co. Fair Association, served as a judge for the Texas Prison Rodeo for many years, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville for more than 60 years.

Destined to be remembered as a cowboy, and rightfully so, Sonny was also a loving husband, wonderful father, tremendous grandfather and great grandfather, and a teacher and mentor to countless students and people throughout his life.

Sonny was predeceased by father L.N Sikes, mother Helen Sikes, brother Bobby Sikes, and beloved wife Joanne Sikes.

He is survived by daughter Sherri Stephens and her husband William Louis (Rock), son Larry Sikes and his wife Shelley, grandchildren Ryan Stephens and his wife Alaina, Staci (Stephens) Bartley and her husband Chris, Macy (Sikes) Fuller and her husband Aaron, Keely (Sikes) Smith and her husband Dustin, Landon Sikes and his wife Amber, his ten great grandchildren Rhett, Lyla and Cade Stephens, William "Luke" Bartley, Brooks, Brady, and Brett Fuller, Keaton and Zane Smith, Joey Sikes, sisters Frances Ragland, Jan Powers, and brother Jack Sikes.

We want to thank Team Sonny for the wonderful care and comfort they provided Sonny and the entire family.  (Tracy Bomer, Loredana Jacobson, Rebecca Byrd, and Leanne Passafuma)

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Heritage Oak Funeral Home.

A celebration of his life will begin on September 21 with visitation at Gibbs Ranch Conference Center from  5:00PM - 7:00PM. There will be a service officiated by Reagan Cooksey at the Sonny Sikes Arena of the Gibbs Ranch Complex on September 22 at 10:00AM followed by the burial at Brooke Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to The Sikes Family Scholarship Endowment, Attention: Office of University Advancement, SHSU, Box 2537, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2537