Bonnie Lucille Lawrence

PEKIN ~ Bonnie Lucille Lawrence, 99, passed away August 27, 2021 at Twin Cities Hospital, Niceville, Florida. She was a 23-year resident of Bob Hope Village, a military retirement community in Shalimar, Florida.

Born in Concord, Illinois to John and Emma (Smith) Kennemer, she was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Bruce Lawrence; one Grandchild, Jimmy Lawrence and nine siblings, Levant, Vernon, Wilma, Ellen, Dorothy, Junior, Martha, Thomas, and Bob.

Surviving family are daughter, Judith (John) Mahone of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; two sons, James (Darlene) Lawrence of Groveland and Kenneth (Leesa) Lawrence of Houston, Texas.

There are five grandchildren, Kimberly (Tom) Mahone Bakke of Muskegon, Michigan, John Mahone lll of Portland, Oregon, Lucinda Lawrence Carr of Groveland, Jody (Jonathan) Lawrence Baldwin of Huffman, Texas and Randle (Andrew) Lawrence Herpel of Tomball, Texas. Bonnie was blessed with six great-grandchildren, AJ and Jake Carr, Ethan and Eldon Baldwin, Abigail and Emrys Herpel.

Blessed with a very long life, Bonnie was unquestionably the family Matriarch. She was a homemaker, seamstress, artist, and breadwinner of the family. Born to a poor sharecropper, she was one of ten children. Bonnie never recalled life being hard and did her best. She was the first of the family to graduate high school. Her mother sewed for the family and taught Bonnie at an early age. Her first real job was sewing Army uniforms during World War II.

As an Army wife, she raised four children while moving around the world. To supplement the family income she continued to sew for others. As her children grew older, she expanded into arts & crafts selling her works to local customers. While stationed in Taiwan and Thailand. she learned Chinese cooking and taught cooking lessons for many years afterwards.

It wasn’t always work for Bonnie as she enjoyed square dancing and, in later years, line dancing. She was a member of the Bob Hope Village Chimes dance group. She loved to travel. It didn’t matter where or when, she was ready to go. She even ventured into camping with her son.

As she entered retirement, quilting became her passion. She was a member of the Flying Needles Quilt Guild producing quilts for charity and wounded veterans.

Bonnie lived a full and bountiful life but her passing leaves a great emptyness with her family and friends. She will be sorely missed.

Visitation will be at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, Illinois Tuesday September 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. Funeral services will be Wednesday, September 8 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Marvin Claassen officiating. Burial will be at the Groveland Mennonite Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Children, s Hospital of Illinois, 530 NE Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61637.

You may also express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com