On Monday, March 18th, our beautiful mother Bonnie Jean Deere was called home to be with our Lord.

Bonnie was born in Provo, Arkansas in 1934.  Bonnie had three brothers, Ernest, Roy, and Dale, and one sister, Inez.  She was raised by her mother Oloree Jo Whistine.

Bonnie was married to Eunis Jake "EJ" Deere for over 49 years, they almost made it to 50, but Dad was called home. They were a unique match, they came from different worlds, but some how it worked.

Our mother loved our father dearly. They met in Blythe, California and fell in love and started a family.  And what a family! Whatever she did in life it was for her family always.  Family was paramount to her.  Bonnie loved having a big family, four boys and four girls; it was just the perfect amount to her.

Bonnie was known to be hard working, a little too hard sometimes.  She worked for the Duprees Store locally for over 20 years and she was known not to take any trash talk or stealing or beer runs while she was on duty.  She was known to run after ya if you did, or ask you not to talk like that in her store.  People respected her in that store mostly, they all knew whose mom she was, because everyone knew her kids.  She was so hard working, she worked until she was 73 years old.

Family dinners and holidays were her favorite time with family.  She was mad if one of us didn't show up! So we' d have to make it up to her.
If we hadn't been over in awhile, she'd say "thought you forgot where I lived" and that was the guilt trip coming and you knew it!

Our mother and father loved each other and when Dad died we knew a little of mom did to.  She missed him until the day she passed.

Sundays growing up were great; fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and Dad doing his famous karate kick in the kitchen playing around...then walk up behind our mother at the sink and hug her and kiss her on the neck. We knew it was going to be a great day!

We all loved and respected our mother, she was the back bone of our family. We didn't get away with much as she would find out and Lord there would be a price to pay.  But when it came to her grandkids, that all went out the window.  She loved them all.  They were all loved, even if they couldn't see it, they were.

In the end, she had the Lord in her heart and peace. Bonnie lived a true and honest life.  A long life. The lord had blessed her with a large family and strength to raise us all.

Bonnie Deere is survived by her children Arthur Ray, Ronald Lee, Robert Dewayne, Sandra Gayle (Gilbert), Brenda Kay (Donald), Karen Sue, Eunice Jean (Jim) and Roy Dale; many grandchildren and great grandchildren, and nieces.

Services will be held at Frye Chapel on Wednesday, March 27th with visitation starting at 9:00 a.m.  The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m.