Sonny was not Navajo. He was Lakota and Murdock and English.

Joan is closer to correct about Sonny's heritage, but if I remember correctly he was MODAC Indian, Lakota and part white. I don't think he was 70 years old but in his mid 60's. He was quite a character. When he was rodeoing, he would enter 4 events and then sing at the dance that night. He was one of a kind!

We will be publishing a In Memory page for him, along with pictures of him in rodeo. He recorded music with Willie, Hank and the late Waylon Jennings. Prayers are needed for his surviving family, friends and rodeo brothers and sisters.

Sonny Jim was 68 years old, born on the Klamath Indian Reservation, in the State of Oregon and was a Modoc Tribe of Northern California and his date of birth is December 28, l940. He had three daughters and the oldest is Sonlatsa Jim-Martin, and he lived among the Navajos since his daughters are part Navajos. He was the greatest World Champion Cowboy and had a truly unique person and made the most of his life a legend in his own unique way. He was loved by his family, his in-laws (the Johnson's) and the Navajo families that had came to know the real Sonny Jim. Georgia is right that he was quite a character and he was one of kind! He will be truly miss and the Navajo Nation had lost a brother, friend, father, and a granddad. This person, Danny Stanfield doesn't realized who this person was and I am sure that he has have to answer up to the highest heavenly being for taking a life and ending it short due to land dispute. Now his in Jail and his land is no longer the issue. He will be the property of NM jail and I honestly hope he gets what he deserve. Of course, he might be using the tax payers money and enjoying his lay back life in the cell. For Sonny, you enjoyed life, and made the most of it.... rest in peace. For his daughters, remember the famous rodeo man and the love he shown for every human being. For the Johnson's, he had always loved every one of you.

Sonny was a great person to know. He was a great cowboy who always had a good word and a smile. I met him in the late 60's and continued to keep in touch with him, traveled, camped, laughed and enjoyed times with him on the Navajo Reservation and in Southern Arizona, played music with him as well. He loved to sing "The Tennessee Flat Top Box", by Johnny Cash. He was the first All Around Cowboy to earn the privilege to use a pickup from the Ames Brothers Ford Co. of Winslow. "We all" enjoyed the ride.
He is legend in his time, may he rest in piece.

To his family and close friends, he showed us all that respect and a friendly attitude makes a happy and good life.

SONNY IS A LEGEND IN HIS TIME!

I met Sonny Jim through my father, Paul W. Arviso, another great cowboy. Sonny was very cordial, respectful, and kind. I was shocked to learn that he was killed. Our heart goes out to his family. God Be with the Family. Our prayers and thoughts have been with you since we found out.

Phil & Robin Nakaidinae, Las Vegas, Nevada

Sonny Jim was 68 years old, born at the Klamath Indian Agency in Oregon and enrolled with the Klamath Tribes, based in Oregon, which enrolls Klamaths, Modocs, and Yahooskin Pauites. My sister Viola James Colombe of MIssion, S. D. and I (Sacramento, CA) are enrolled with the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma. Modocs were sent in exile to Oklahoma Indian Territory after the Modoc War of 1873, one of the most expensive Indian wars ever fought. Hence, there are Modocs enrolled in both tribes. Sonny graduated from Taos H.S. in 1958. He was the son of Luella and Clyde L. James. Clyde "Chief" James was one of the first Native American professional basketball players and is enshrined in the American Indian Athlete Hall of Fame, located in Haskell, Kansas.

Thank you Cheewa for the correct information. As for the incident itself, Sonny was there helping his friend Wayne Johnson, as Wayne had no family. Sonny took care of Wayne, including taking him for hospital visits and such. Sonny, as always was just being a good samaritan. CORRECTION- Sonny also had 5 daughters, Sharon Lamothe is the oldest. For more information or for future planned memorial events please contact Sonlatsa "Sunshine" Jim-Martin, sonlatsa@yahoo.com

Obituary

http://azjournal.com/news/131/ARTICLE/4554/2009-11-04.html

My uncles rodeo'd with Sonny in the 60 & 70's, he was a real pro inside and outside the rodeo areas.

This song is for him... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS0_h_bYe8I

long live cowboys.your presence will never be forgoten.I smoked my first cigar with sonny at cheyene and he took me on my first porcupine hunt with a shovel in rosebud.casey green warm springs or

Sonny and I also used to porcupine hunt when we were kids but we did it the old fashioned way - with bow and arrow. I placed the comments below on some other sites a couple of weeks ago. I'd like to add them here too. - Zeke.

Sonny was like a big brother to me when I was a teenager in Taos, N.M. Although I was just an Anglo kid from Texas that spent his summer and winter vacations near Taos, Sonny and his whole family and his circle of friends always treated me as an equal. He and my sister dated off and on for years and remained good friends until now. Sonny taught me about horses, playing guitar, and girls and to be brave when the going got tough.
My sister, Emily, moved to Taos for good in the 1970’s. She and Sonny, his family and most of our friends from “back in the day” got together for a reunion there a couple of years ago. I live in Denver and was buried in my career and couldn’t make the reunion. I’ll always regret that I wasn’t there.
I also lived near Taos for a couple of years in the mid-70’s when Sonny was still around there some. When he was around, there was seldom ever a dull moment. His charisma and free spirit rubbed off on those around him. I probably didn’t realize how much he meant to me until the last few days. But I know I’ll see him again when I journey on because he’ll always be family to me.
May God bless you, brother – Ride on!

SONNY JIM CHANGED MY LIFE, TAUGHT ME HOW TO RODEO, HOW TO CHASE WOMEN, DRINK WHISKY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY BE A MAN. HE WAS A TRUE LEGEND AND A TRUE COWBOY. THIS WORLD WILL BE A SADDER PLACE THATS FOR DAM SURE. I WILL MISS SONNY VERY MUCH. AND I PROMISE YOU THIS MY GRRANDKIDS WILL KNOW THE STORIES OF SONNY JIM.

Re "Justin igger said..."

Until the moderators delete the troll comment, I will answer it:
Far more people than give the same about you. May you meet the same fate, and soon.