Philip J. Sonier, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away on February 8, 2026, at the age of 85. He was born on December 5, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan to Peter and Tessie (Kalamick) Sonier. He was a devoted father and known for his storytelling in word and photography, persistence, enthusiasm and attention to detail in all he did. He is preceded in death by his brother Richard Sonier and is survived by his ex-wife Kristine (Heller) Sonier, daughter Dyane Sonier both of Albuquerque, and many good friends.

Philip began working at the age of 8 to help his family. In Detroit, he graduated from St. Casimir High School in 1958 and obtained a certificate from the East Side Design & Engineering Institute in 1959. He enlisted in the United State Air Force in 1959 where he became a Radio Operator and Air Operations Specialist and was honorably discharged in 1963 when stationed at Kirtland Airforce Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Philip made Albuquerque home, took courses at St. Joseph College and began work with local engineers as a draftsman and electrical designer. He met and married Kristine Heller in 1965.

Philip continued to work in electrical design for 38 years for Uhl & Lopez Engineers, Inc., and then Holmes & Narver DMJM. He enjoyed customer relations and the challenge of designing electrical, power and lighting systems for many of the region’s schools, hospitals, communications, local government, and corporate and federal government facilities around the world.

And…every other waking moment was spent traveling, taking and developing his photography. Philip’s love of photography started at age 15 with his father’s box camera. When stationed in Alaska, his love of nature, wildlife and photography grew. In 1983 he established his photography business “Creative Photographics,” renamed “Moments from Nature” which he operated until 2022. During that time, Philip photographed around the world, exhibited and sold his photographs at juried art shows, was a juror for national photo competitions and his photographs received numerous achievement awards including multiple Professional Eastman Kodak Gallery Awards for Photographic Excellence.

Philip participated in, was on the boards and served as president of various local professional photography, lighting engineering, wildlife related and art show organizations such as the Albuquerque Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Candy Kitchen Wolf Rescue, New Mexico Arts & Crafts Festival and Weems Art Fest. He enjoyed sharing his adventures and the amazing wildlife he saw with others - making public presentations to schools, youth groups, amateur and professional photography organizations and service groups to promote appreciation and protection of wildlife and natural spaces. While Philip’s most well-known photograph, Watcher in the Woods (Who’s Watching Whom) was featured in magazines and was distributed through the Cold Water Creek catalog in the 1990’s and 2000’s, he enjoyed taking, making and sharing ALL of the moments from nature he experienced with all of those he met.

A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at The Church of the Incarnation in Rio Rancho. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wildlife Rescue, Inc. of New Mexico or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.