Obituary: Bonnie Kay Snodgrass

Published 12:05 pm Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Bonnie Kay Snodgrass, of Athena, Oregon, passed away Saturday, January 21, 2012, of complications from meningitis; she was 69. Waiting to greet her were her identical twin sister, Barbara, and her parents, Glen and Helen. Bonnie is survived by her husband, Ross, also of Athena, her son Forrest, currently living in Portland, and her daughter and grandson, Holly and Wyatt Mays of Weston, Ore. Bonnies viewing will be on Friday, January 27 at the Athena Baptist Church from 1-3 p.m., followed by a graveside service at the Athena Cemetery. Her memorial service will be on Saturday, January 28, also at the Athena Baptist Church at 1 p.m., followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments. We would love for you to share a story or memory of Bonnie at any of the services.

She was born Bonnie DeRemer on April 8, 1942, in East Chicago, Ind., and spent her childhood in Munster, Indiana, being raised a devout Lutheran. In 1960, she joined the U.S. Navy and served three years as a disbursing clerk. While stationed in Seattle, Wash., she met her husband Ross, originally from La Grande, Ore., and they were married April 1963.  Their daughter was born in Seattle in 1964, and their son in March 1967 while they were stationed in Japan. Bonnie was a supportive wife and ever-present mother while traveling with her family to live in San Fransisco, Calif., Ankara, Turkey, and Copenhagen, Denmark.

After her husband retired from the Navy, the family settled in Athena in 1977. She and her husband have remained in the area since. Bonnies caring and giving heart helped in her careers as an EMT and caregiver of both children and adults. Bonnie, along with many others before and after her, were instrumental in establishing in what is now the East Umatilla County Health District. She loved children and cared for many of them in her home as well as provided adult care in the comfort of their own homes. 

Bonnie loved music, especially opera and Christian; enjoyed sewing and embroidery, especially baby quilts; and really liked a good conversation! She will be greatly missed and well remembered.