Marisa "Missy" J. Sorrells

Marisa (Missy) June Sorrells, 59, of Moline, IL passed away peacefully in the arms of her family, on Saturday, December 9, 2017, at the OSF Richard Owens Hospice House, Peoria, IL.

Burial will be private. A Celebration of Life is planned for 2 p.m. until late, Sunday, December 17 at Rozz-Tox, Rock Island, IL, the business she and her son Benjamin built and nurtured together. Memorials may be made to the family for Missy’s favorite charities.

Marisa (Missy) Donth was born November 11, 1958 in Chicago, the daughter of Bobby Ray Giboney and Peter W. Donth, whom she loved dearly and cared for selflessly. She was best friend and big sister to her siblings Cindy, Tim, Peter, and Jamison, and helped “mother” these loved ones from her youngest years as a nurturer until her ascent into heaven.

Life gifted Missy with extra parents, sisters, brothers, and children. She simplified complicated family relationships and took away the labels, knowing all lovingly as mom, dad, sister and brother—no “step,” no “foster,” no “half.” Her sisters Mary (Dodds) Evans and Sheri (Swanson) Patterson, and parents Mom and Dad Dodds, and Mom and Dad Swanson were forever dear to her heart.

True love blessed her life in 1982 with the birth of her only son Benjamin James Fawks with her former husband Jim Fawks. It was a great joy to witness the love between this mother and son. Ben was Missy’s life, and while she took much pride in her beautiful, kind, and independent son, she watched over him to the very end. She saw Ben’s best friend and brother-in-life Mario Delgado as her own son.

As Missy’s life changed, two more children would bless her life. She was Mother to Lisa and Bill Cunningham, loving them wholly and unconditionally. She was proud Grandma to their children.

Missy married her soul-mate, Randy Sorrells, in 2000. Missy and Randy were a fun-loving pair who laughed out loud at every possible moment. Together they would embrace an even broader family, and all thrived in this love. Randy passed suddenly and tragically in 2008, and Missy spoke often of seeing him again in Heaven. We are all at peace knowing they are together again.

Missy and her son Benjamin were forever partners in life, and brought their loving, kind, and creative energy to the Quad City community when they opened their business, Rozz-Tox, in 2011. The Rozz-Tox family Missy and Ben created together is vast and deep, and she loved every person who walked through their doors, and they returned her love.  She was so happy to see Benjamin and Mariah meet, and witness the love between them. She is Mother to so many there, Donnie, Ian, Dasha, Heather, Deke, ... Her touch will be missed forevermore.

Missy had a life full of passions—sewing, gardening, her birds and fur babies Briemma and Nina, Mexican food, the Hallmark Channel, Christmas, but most importantly, her friends and family. She loved her vacations to China, California, Wisconsin, Texas, and the East Coast with her son, and trips to Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Indiana, and Wisconsin with her sisters Cindy and Sheri. She was deeply proud of her mother’s Chickasaw heritage and loved Native American ways. She is a daughter of the earth and sister of the wind—she lived her life simply, but loved fully.

Missy’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who survive her: sons Benjamin Fawks, Rock Island, IL, and Bill (Amy) Cunningham, San Antonio, TX; daughter Lisa (Nick) Boyer, East Moline; sister Cindy (Tony) Carton, Apple River, IL; brothers Tim Donth, Moline, Peter D. Donth, Moline, Jamison Hill, Scottsdale, AZ; grandchildren Ella, Marilyn, Violet, and Hannon Boyer, Gabriella, Konrad, Liam, Olivia, and Emma Cunningham, Jacob and Andrew Brown; nieces and nephews Tony (Steph) Carton, Hannah Carton Kuhse, Rachel Carton, Dominic Carton, Chris (Teri) Carton, and Jennifer (Brian) Casey; grand-nieces and -nephews, aunts, uncles and so many loving cousins. She cherished time with each one of them.

Preceding her in death are her mother and father, Bobby and Pete, Mom (Kay) Dodds, husband Randall Sorrells, niece Helen Elizabeth Carton, sister Mary (Dodds) Evans, cousins Jordyn Olsen and Debby (Sloan) Carpenter, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friend Chuck Knudsen.