Bernice Bonner Smith's Obituary
Bernice ?Peggy? Bonner Smith
Funeral services for Bernice ?Peggy? Bonner Smith will be held Wednesday, February 2, 2005 in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Burial will be in Center Cemetery, Harleton. Born to Will and Sudie Jane Huffman of Harleton, Texas, on October 5, 1910, Mrs. Smith lived in Harleton as a child and later graduated from Marshall High School in 1931.
After attending beauty school in Tyler, Texas, she launched her own beauty salon, Peggy?s Beauty Shop at 310 E. Whaley, a business she operated for thirty-seven years.
In her community Mrs. Smith played an active role in area lodges, service organizations, and her church. She was a member of the Longview Rebekah Lodge, over the years serving as president, noble grand, past noble grand, secretary, and many other offices during her sixty-two year membership in this organization. In addition, she a member of the American Business Women?s Association and earned the ABWA Woman of the Year award. Also, she was a member of the American Legion, the Moose Lodge, Senior Citizens, and the Woodmen of the World. For many years, she joined Mrs. James Johnson as a teacher of the three year olds at First Baptist Church.
She and her husband, Weldon Bonner, had two children, W. R. Bonner and Jan Bonner Doerr. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Following Mr. Bonner?s death, she moved to Lake Tawakoni and operated Barge Point Landing. Later, she married Jim Smith and retired at Point, Texas. After Mr. Smith?s death, she returned to Longview and resumed her active role in the community as a part of various lodges and organizations.
Her ready smile, her friendliness, and her zest for life inspired all those who knew her. Her loving family includes her son, W. R. Bonner; her daughter, Jan Doerr; her three grandchildren, Sandi Araiza, Buddy Bonner, and Sam Doerr. ?Nanny? as he was known to her family was the proud great-grandmother of four lovely girls, Caroline Araiza, Emily Araiza, Avery Jane Bonner, and Natalie Kate Bonner.
Her family requests that memorials be made to Greater Hospice of Texas, Inc., 1905 W. Loop 281 #81, Longview, Texas 75608.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, February 1, 2005.
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