Soynia Karen Larsson departed the Earth on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. She was 85 years old.

Born on December 8, 1936 in Springfield, Mo to Paul Reynold Larsson and Wanda Gilbert Larsson, her early childhood was spent on ranger stations around Southern Missouri, Indiana and Illinois as the family's life was built around her father's career in the Forest Service.

The family was in Poplar Bluff, MO, where she graduated high school. After finishing school, Soynia moved to St. Louis to attend nursing school at St. Louis City Hospital School of Nursing, where she graduated with her Registered Nursing degree in 1957. Soynia conducted graduate work at Washington University in St. Louis.

Ms. Larsson spent her entire career as a dedicated medical professional and her passion was Labor and Delivery focusing on bringing new life into the world. She spent 13 years at City Hospital before moving to Springfield, Mo in 1970 to work at Cox Medical Center. At Cox, she held many positions, including nursing administrator in Maternal and Child Health and helped to oversee the construction of Cox South Hospital in the 1990's.

Soynia retired in 1999 to dedicate her time to caring for her beloved mother, Wanda Larsson.

Family was everything to her. As a caring aunt to her nieces and nephews, a reliable sibling to her sisters, she provided her family with solid advice, motherly love and unforgettable experiences. Soynia loved the holidays and making sure that it was always magical for family and friends and her zest for travel allowed her to explore the USA and Europe.

Her kindness and caring nature for those she loved was always on display. At work, she was organized, dedicated, and tough - her personal rigor ensured that patients received the utmost care while under her supervision. Her core values in life were hard work, fairness, kindness, generosity, honesty and integrity.

From close friends to extended family, she was a steady and reliable force of nature all wrapped up in a petite little lady. Soynia's Catholic faith carried her through many hardships and challenges throughout her life, but she never swayed from her convictions.

Soynia is preceded in death by her parents, Paul Reynold Larsson and Wanda Alene Gilbert Larsson, and nephew Michael Brendan Patrick.

Survivors are her two sisters, Linda J. Jackson (Charles), and Lura L. Patrick, nephew John Jerrels, nieces Pam Ward (Brian), and Kristina Patrick-Meiers (Robert), great nephews, Jacob Ward and Beckett Meiers and great niece, Lauren Ward. In addition, she loved her many wonderful cousins that were an integral part of her life.

A graveside service will be held in Maple Park Cemetery in Springfield, Mo on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.