Bonnie Corene Johnson

Bonnie Corene Johnson, 91, Stockton, a homemaker, died Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at Christian Health Care, Nevada. She was born May 25, 1917, in rural Polk County, the third of eight children born to Lewis Preston and Oma Jane (Gannaway) Earnest.

She accepted Christ as her savior when she was a young lady, while attending a revival at Fairview Missionary Baptist Church in rural Cedar County. The church (walking distance from their family home) still stands with the help of restoration over the years.

Her family, like the Brady bunch, was a truly amazing one some can only imagine. They enjoyed their lives in the years that provided few comforts. They never imagined any place could be better than where they were. All recalling their lives as the best ever, a loving pop and mom that some of their grandchildren were able to enjoy.

She married Howard W. Reaves April 28, 1934, at Fair Play at the age of 16. Early in their marriage, they moved to California where their first child was born. When they moved back to Missouri, there were many more trips made to California for the seasonal work available for the men and women in packing houses. Over the years, and trips back and forth, there were two more daughters born in Missouri. Their last trip from California was 1941 for the birth of their fourth daughter. Deerfield was their home for a few years, where they farmed prior to moving to Nevada. She worked at Key Work Clothes for many years, helping to support her family.

She moved to California in the late 1950s, where she met and married Furman William Johnson Sept. 17, 1960, in Las Vegas, Nev. She worked as a housewife and also helped her husband on their farm. She loved sewing and making clothes without patterns for her daughters. She also made beautiful rugs out of small squares of cloth you would never believe could turn into anything so pretty. She loved to bowl and was a league bowler in California and Kansas. Eventually, the farm was sold, both retired and moved to Stockton. Sadly, as their health began to fail, their house was sold and they were moved to Christian Health Care in Nevada in March 2008.

Survivors include her husband Furman Johnson; two daughters, Ramona Jo Ramsey of Pangburn, Ark., and Wanda Fern Ramsey and husband Richard of Missouri; two sisters, Freeda Baumgarner of Stockton and Gladys "Lynn" Painter and husband Jim of El Dorado Springs; nine grandchildren, Mike Brundridge of Schell City, Sheila Gorre and husband Ed of Pangburn, Ark., Terry Griggs and wife Patty of Marysville, Pa., Tamra Bargar and husband Scott of Moyock, N.C., Rodney Fritter and wife Deanna of Harrison, Ark., Alana Gayman and husband Mark of Nevada, Debbie Moore and husband Eric of Sherman, Texas, Renee Crowell and husband Tom of Springfield, Tenn., and Jeri Ann Ramsey of Mound City, Kan.; 17 great-grandchildren, Chris, Jamie, Jason and Misty Brundridge of Missouri, Shannon, Aaron and Brenon Boyd of Arkansas, Hannah Davis of Florida, Brandon Fritter of Arkansas, Joshua and Jeremy Moore of Texas, Rhiannon Jacobs of Missouri, Jenna and Whitney Mosher of Nevada, Mo., Tanner and Tyler Crowell of Tennessee, and Adena (Griggs) of Newbery, Calif.; 17 great-great-grandchildren, Tody and Tyler Brundridge, Julie, Jacob, Alexis, Rebecca, Alisha, Bailee, Levi and Billa Boyd, Serenity Jade Wright, Patience and Breanna McCord and Andriana Dawn Moore; one great-great-great-grandchild, Conner Leon Robertson; a stepson, Curt Johnson and wife Cheryl of San Jose, Calif.; seven stepgrandchildren, Timothy, Benjamin, Daniel, Matthew, Zachary, Rebecca and Elizabeth Johnson; three stepgreat-grandchildren; two special friends, Darrel and Michelle Pummel; many nieces and nephews; a brother-in-law; and many sons-in-law she loved and who cared deeply for her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Oma Earnest; two daughters, Jerrie Ann Randell in 1990 and Clara "Rae" Beck in 2008; two brothers, Stanley and Tommy Earnest; and three sisters, Irene Ripee, Lamoyne Swager and June Russalt.

Services were at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Brumback Funeral Home, with burial in Alder Cemetery, Stockton, under direction of Brumback Funeral Home. Pallbearers are Jeri Ann Ramsey, Shannon Boyd, Aaron Boyd and Brenon Boyd.