Bonnie Dee Johnson

Bonnie Dee Johnson Bonnie Dee (Edwards) Johnson, a loved wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and teacher passed peacefully on Saturday, October 7, 2017. Bonnie, with her husband of 68 years, Clayton, lived a long and full life. She was born a twin in Wenatchee, WA on November 26, 1927, to Lee and Gail (Jones) Edwards. She was raised and schooled in Wenatchee, graduating from Wenatchee High in 1945. Growing up in a young and growing Wenatchee valley provided her many opportunities for fun and adventure. Some of her early jobs were at the Plaza soda fountain and GTE telephone company. Later, after raising her family, she attended Central WA University and earned her teaching degree in 1974. She was a favorite teacher for many Cascade Elementary (East Wenatchee) students until her retirement in 1987. In her high school years, Bonnie started her lifelong talent and passion for music and piano playing, which brightened the hearts and ears of many throughout her life. She also taught many piano students and directed many young voices as director of the First United Methodist Church choir during the years of 1964 through 1970. Also, throughout her adult life, she developed her beautiful style of painting, in both oils and watercolors. She enjoyed and appreciated her time painting and exchanging conversations with other painters. Exhibiting her paintings were a source of pride and great enjoyment, especially on the walls of the lake home. She met her future husband Clay Johnson during their high school years. After his honorable discharge from the Navy and return to Wenatchee, Bonnie and Clay were married August 14, 1948. They set up their first home in the Burke Hill Apartments and began constructing the first of 14 homes, in which they began growing their family of three boys. She was kept very busy at the Sunnyslope home raising the family, volunteering at Sunnyslope Elementary School, giving piano lessons, preparing and practicing for weekly choir performances and general care taking duties of the family home and small acre orchard. Beginning with their elderly dating trips to Lake Chelan, mom and dad developed a strong yearning to build a home on the lake. Mom was a strong force behind this. Many summer Sundays, after church, the family would drive up to look at properties all around the lake. Most drives home were filled with laments of how expensive lake frontage values were. They finally achieved their goal in 1975 and treasured their time with the family and friends at the lake. In 1983, mom and dad began their annual excursions to Hawaii, developing many friendships. In between these trips, they traveled throughout Europe. Mom was always known for her love of picture-taking and album building. She blessed our family with a library of memories, also creating a memory album with photos for each grandchild at their graduation from high school. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton, her father and mother, and granddaughter Lindsay. Bonnie is survived by her sons: Doug (Cathy), Rick (Kris), and Greg (Lisa) Johnson, all of Wenatchee; twin-sister Barb (Vic) Knight, Wenatchee; four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Special thanks from the family to Bonaventure and their caring staff and Hospice for the care of Bonnie. A celebration of Bonnie's life will be take place on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 11:00 am and will be held at The First United Methodist Church located on 941 Washington Street in Wenatchee. A reception will follow in the Reception Hall. A graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Sunnyslope Cemetery. Donations are suggested to Ronald McDonald House, Seattle. You are invited to view her online guestbook at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee, WA.

Bonnie Dee Johnson

November 26, 1928 - October 7, 2017