Bonnie Jean Brown

Bonnie Jean Brown was born on March 29, 1957 in Fresno, CA. She was the youngest of the three children of Harry and Bertha Brown, including Ron and Fred Brown. Her family attended and was very involved in Bethany Church, where she was baptized and became a member.

She attended Easterby Elementary School until her parents moved to work at Sugar Pine Camp for her sixth through eighth grade years. She enjoyed living at the camp and worked there during summers. When the family moved back to Fresno, she attended Immanuel High School, graduating with honors in 1975. Bonnie worked in the business office while she finished her college degree, receiving her BA in Business Administration in 1981 from Pacific College (now called Fresno Pacific University).

After graduation, she moved to Bakersfield to work for Abate a Weed in the business department and then moved to Visalia to take a new job. She later moved to Fresno to become the financial aid director at Pacific College (FPU). Several years later she took a position at Fresno State in their financial aid department. Bonnie was excellent at her profession; in a calm and deliberate way she expressed well thought out opinions until her decisions were taken seriously. She was always well informed on any new requirements and connected with others in her profession to share ideas. She even took masters level classes in family counseling to meet the needs of the students and families she met with.

In Monterey, Bonnie was instrumental in starting a yearly fundraiser to provide scholarships for students. She worked in higher education for most of her career and placed a high value on students getting to experience college.

Although she loved her friends and family, she loved her “fur babies” equally or maybe more. She told her friends that she was glad she didn’t have any children because she spoiled her pets so badly that she would probably spoil her children way too much! However, when Judy went through her finances she found that Bonnie really cared about children and supported St Jude’s, Save the Children, and five children from World Vision on a monthly basis. She also financially supported her church, MCC, and the needy, through giving monthly to the Food Bank of Monterey.

What were a few of Bonnie’s favorite things? She loved baskets and glass containers and had over 25 of each, in addition to her large collection of framed pictures. She also loved puzzles and books and had hundreds of each before moving to Reedley. In fact, she planned to help Judy form a library committee at Palm Village to give access to more books for the residents. Watching football with Ron and cheering for the 49ers was another favorite activity. On the way home from cancer treatments, Bonnie would often ask Judy to stop at her favorite Ramen place to pick up noodles to take home. Bonnie was definitely an Amazon Lady; over 25 automatic subscriptions had to be canceled on her phone.

Bonnie enjoyed Classic Rock, the Beatles and more. She attended one concert at Radcliff Stadium as an all day event with three bands. Arriving early to get good seating on a 100+ day was no problem for Bonnie and her friends, even though they ended up sunburned, dehydrated and stinky at the end of this memorable day.

Traveling with friends was a highlight. Bonnie went with friends to Ashland Shakespeare Festival several times and convinced them how much fun this would be. She was a fearless traveler and would research where she wanted to go and make plans to get there, often including friends in the travel.

Bonnie was also good at talking her friends into new things. After purchasing her first house, she talked her friend, Cleora, into purchasing one too. Soon, Bonnie convinced her friend to adopt a dog. Cleora said that Bonnie had a way of knowing what her friends needed before they did!

She also was a fan of classic films at the Tower Theater, especially Cary Grant! Watching live performances was also a favorite. She loved British TV and would try to get her friends to watch different series with her. She watched many cooking shows and even named her dog after Alton Brown. In fact almost all of her pets had famous “Brown” names.

Bonnie later moved to Monterey to help set up the new Cal State University there. She hated to leave her Fresno friends, but was excited for the new challenge and the chance to live in beautiful Monterey. She worked for the university as the financial aid director from 1994 to 2005 and made many new friends.

Bonnie loved her friends both old and new. She enjoyed having dinner parties to gather her friends together to cook. Everyone was given a job that fit their skills and Bonnie had a way of involving everyone in the experience and making it a memorable time together. There was always laughter, good food and a time for enjoying each other in a relaxed, comfortable environment. She cared about her friends and offered love, support, and connection to everyone.

Bonnie became the Director of Student Information Systems from 2005 until 2008, when she retired. Still needed in her profession, she was hired as a consultant for Hartnell College in Salinas for ten years.

Extended family times were enjoyed on Easter Sunday at Fred and Pam’s home and at her parents’ home on Christmas Day. Bonnie made an effort to drive back to the valley to stay connected. Ron and Judy spent many Thanksgivings at her home, where she would prepare gourmet meals according to Ron’s wishes. Those meals included fresh crab or lobster from the local fish market in Monterey, sometimes prime rib, and always shrimp cocktail, with an assortment of appetizers and desserts.

Bonnie lived in Monterey for almost 30 years, until she decided to move back to the valley in 2022 to be closer to family when she was diagnosed with cancer. Her family helped her downsize and move to Palm Village to begin her treatments at the cancer center at Clovis Community Hospital. She enjoyed reconnecting with Fresno friends and enjoyed going out to lunch or having them visit her in Reedley. She began attending the Mennonite Community Church and also watched several online services of different churches, including Bethany Church, where she grew up.

Last February Bonnie was declared “cancer free,” but her cancer came back in November of 2023 and she accepted that God was in charge of her life. She chose not to be bitter against God, but to fully trust and depend on Him and to submit to His will for her life. Her faith grew so much during her two plus years of cancer.

Judy found notifications for Bible apps, Daily Bread, and YouVersion on Bonnie’s phone. Bonnie’s phone notes included favorite verses Psalm 23 and 2 Timothy 4:7, which summed up her life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”