Bonnie Louise White of Tyler, Texas, passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at the age of 89. She was born on September 7, 1934 in Bennington, Okla., to Cleveland Erance and Sarah Louisa (Williams) White.
Bonnie grew up in Jackson, Okla. As a Navy wife, she lived at bases in Japan and Virginia Beach. She returned to Oklahoma from Georgia in 1962 with her four children, ages 6, 4, 2 and six months. Encouraged by her brother Lonnie Ray and with the support of her parents, Bonnie enrolled in Southeastern State College in Durant, Okla., where she obtained a B.A. in Education and a teaching certificate in 1969. She was the first person in her family to graduate from college. After teaching at Sam Rayburn Elementary School in Telephone, Texas, Bonnie moved to California in 1972. There, she taught at the Oro Loma, Elmer Wood, Franklin, Shaffer and Atwater Elementary Schools. Bonnie earned a Master’s Degree in Education and developed new methods of teaching children to read. She touched the lives of hundreds of schoolchildren. Bonnie retired to Tyler, Texas in 2011.
Bonnie was a proud Christian and a member of the Atwater Baptist Church where she organized and ran the food pantry mission. In Tyler, she attended church at the Southern Oaks Baptist Church. Bonnie participated in the annual Postman Food Drive and was a sorority sister in, and an officer of the Beta Sigma Phi and Xi Mu Delta sororities.
Bonnie enjoyed quilting and made numerous quilts for herself and family. She learned to quilt with her mother, who would lower the quilting frame from the living room ceiling and quilted, most often joined by neighbors and family. Bonnie was a life-long learner and avid reader. She loved to dance and often attended the Bennington Homecoming and street dance. Bonnie sang and played guitar. She enjoyed traveling with friends and grandchildren. We miss her genuine smile and infectious laughter.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, C. E. White and Sarah Louisa (Williams) White; her children’s father, Peter G. Milne, Sr.; brother, Nathan White and wife Laverne; brother, Lonnie Ray and wife, Ylovia Long; brother, Larry Lee White; daughter-in-law, Eileen Munroe and grandson Dustin Bland.
Survivors include her sister-in-law, Naomi White; son, Peter G. Milne Jr. (Skipper) and wife Stasha Gominak of Tyler, Texas; son, Paul Milne of Dunbar, Scotland; daughter, Theresa Branch and husband Tracy of Arp, Texas; son, Michael S. Milne and wife Suzanne of Tyler, Texas; grandchildren: Melissa Milne of Tyler, Texas; Megan Hayden and husband Nick Hayden of Melborne, Australia; Rowan Milne of Edinburgh, Scotland; Kieran Milne and wife, Debbie Armour of Nottingham, England, Remi Munroe of Edinburgh, Scotland; Misty Adams of Oroville, California; Cory Milne-Bland of Yuba City California; 13 great-grandchildren; nine nieces and nephews, as well as many other extended family and friends.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at Restland Cemetery in Boswell, Oklahoma, Clark Harp presiding, followed by a luncheon at the Bennington First Baptist Church.
Pall bearers are cousins Johnnie, Ronald and Albert White; nephews Larry Vincent White and Justin White; grandson Bryce Adams; and son-in-law Tracy Branch. Cousin Donald White, nephews Clifton White and grandson Cory Milne-Bland are honorary pall bearers.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. Third Ave. in Durant.
Phone: (580)916-9090
www.gordonfh.com