Bonnie D. Manwill Summers, 78, our loving mother, grandmother, sister, teacher and friend passed away on Sunday, March 9, 2008 at home following a three year struggle with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Bonnie was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 26, 1930 to Vearl James and Melissa Green Manwill. She attended Granite High School and finished her education at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. It was there that she attended a school dance and fell in love with the handsome band trumpet player, Robert Marion Summers. They were married on August 3, 1951 in Salt Lake City and soon moved to Logan to pursue their education. Upon Bob's return from the Korean War, they relocated to Declo, Idaho, where he began his first teaching job. Shortly after, they both accepted jobs in Ashton, Idaho where they lived until moving to Pocatello, Idaho. Eventually they settled permanently in Soda Springs, Idaho. Bob taught music and band and Bonnie taught kindergarten, grade school and "special needs" children both in school and in her home until her retirement.
Bonnie was a spirited leader, teacher and gifted artist, with great wit and humor. She was an active member of the LDS Church, serving for years as the lesson leader in the Relief Society. She served as President of the Soda Springs Teachers Association. She also belonged to the Homemakers Club, Red Hat Society and the Silver Mermaids Aerobics group where she was most often director. After Bob's death in 1997, Bonnie returned to two life long passions, oil painting and travel. She loved painting landscapes and received numerous awards for her art work. She was also fortunate to travel the world with friends and family.
Bonnie leaves behind two sons, Richard and Laura Summers, Meridian, ID; and Stuart and Tracie Summers, Minneapolis Minnesota, two granddaughters, Rikki and Jessica, and four grandsons, Tyson, Spencer A., Nelson and Spencer D.. She also has two sisters, Carma Manwill Coulam, SLC, UT and Luana Manwill Pearson, Rancho Mirage, CA; a brother Paul E. Manwill, SLC, UT as well as her "special family" the George Allen Family of Soda Springs, Idaho. She was also preceded in death by her parents, twin brother and sister (died in childbirth) her brother, James Vearl Manwill and her dear friend, Don Moss.
The family wishes to extend our many thanks to the wonderful caring staff at the University Of Utah Huntsman Cancer Center and a very special thanks to Dr. James P. Kushner and Mary as well as the 4th floor inpatient staff. The family has suggested donations be made to the Huntsman Cancer Center for lymphoma research.
Funeral services were conducted on Friday, March 14th at 1:00 p.m. at the Soda Springs LDS Stake Center with Bishop Jerry Taylor officiating. Burial was in the Fairview Cemetery in Soda Springs.