Bonnie V. Dooley

Bonnie Victoria Dooley, age 72, went home to be with her Savior on April 14, 2013. Bonnie was the first born child of three to Howard and Virginia Burnside of Baltimore MD. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Phillip Burnside, and is survived by her brother Howard “Larry” Burnside.

Bonnie possessed many beautiful attributes but none more lovely than a servant’s heart. She graduated class of ’61 from the Maryland General Hospital School of Nursing and served as a nurse in many capacities including GBMC emergency room, Balto. City occupational medicine, Cockeysville Elementary School nurse, MD State Fair, Mt. View Bible Camp, Indian Lake Bible camp, Dulaney High School Band nurse, and many more groups and activities.

Bonnie loved spending time with her friends at Pleasant Hill Chapel, Perry Hall Baptist, and Living Hope Baptist Church. She could sing like a bird and studied at Peabody institute for music in Baltimore. She was very active in choir at church and was also involved in many children ministries.

She and Robert Dooley married in May 2003 and they both served as volunteers at JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Radio Service), a ministry in South Carolina for many years.

Bonnie was a joy filled and “crazy” Grandmother. To her grandkids she was known as “Bon-Bon”. They enjoyed sled rides, beach outings, swimming, and seeing her dress up like Mrs. Santa. She filled her house with all sorts of fun things for the kids to enjoy and there never was a day she wasn’t ready to jump in the pool. At Christmas time her home was full of lights, trees, bubble machines, talking decorations, and music. It was a Christmas wonderland.

Her door was known as a revolving door for visiting missionaries and friends. Everyone knew there would be a comfortable home away from home provided by Bonnie if needed.

Her three children, William “Steve” Pearce, Rodger Pearce, and Bonnie “Shelley” Sammis were blessed to have such a fun filled Mom. She devoted her life to her family. Mom was there for everything. She kept the score cards for Steve’s ball teams, dressed up as a cheerleader for Pee-Wee football Rodger played; she was the epitome of “mom’s taxi”. While working to raise three kids she never missed a school field trip. She also coached Shelley’s softball team without knowing anything about coaching the game, she just wanted to be a part of the fun. The extent of her love for her children will pass through many generations to come.

Bonnie’s joy for service was from her deep love for Jesus her beloved Savior. Oh how she would just dream of Heaven and talk of her love for God. Everything she did in her life began with this deep rooted faith. Her expression of joy and faith will be greatly missed.

The family will receive friends in the Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, Inc., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, MD 21093 on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9PM and on Saturday April 20 from 10 to 11AM at which time a funeral service will be celebrated at 11AM. Interment Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

Expressions of sympathy may be directed in Bonnie’s memory to the Living Hope Baptist Church, P.O. Box 10 Reisterstown, MD 21136 and or to The Gideons Int., P.O. Box 10124, Baltimore, MD 21285-0124