Bonnie L. Johnson

JOHNSON-Bonnie L. 74, formerly of Newfane, NY and Eden, NY, died Thursday, October 25, 2007, at the home of her daughter in Pleasant Lake, IN, of Alzheimer's Disease. She was born in Angola, IN on March 17, 1933, married G. LeRoy Johnson on Feb. 10, 1952, then moved to Western NY.In the past she was active in the First Baptist Church in Newfane, taught swimming, and lectured for Weight Watchers. She loved camping, drawing, reading, sewing and crafts. Later, she attended Empire State College, worked for Niagara County as a real property tax clerk, was Eden town assessor, and a member of the Buffalo Friends Meeting. Bonnie spent many years volunteering for the Girl Scouts of Niagara County and received the Thanks Badge, Girl Scouting's highest honor, in 1988. Her poetry and readings were well-known in the Buffalo area, where she was a member of Niagara-Erie Writers, Lake Land Arts Association, and Earth's Daughters, a collective of Buffalo-area women writers. Ms. Johnson published her first book, "The Jungle Book," in 1983 and was winner of the National Feminist Writers Guild Women of Promise Award. Her poetry has appeared in Earth's Daughters, Black Mountain II Review, Arachne, Common Ground, 13th Moon and many other small press publications. Her second book, "Alice," was published in 2003. She enjoyed retirement, traveling to Europe, reading, writing, women's studies and activism, and family celebrations. Surviving are a dear friend and companion Anne Montes of Eden; four daughters, Cynthia (Bill) Smist of Lockport, Sandra (John) Kabes of Pleasant Lake, IN, Susan (Roger) Bertch of Vicksburg, MI and Christine (Christopher) McQuilkin of Hollis, NH; a brother, James Kaufman of Jackson, MI; a sister, Barbara Penick of Pleasant Lake, IN; ex-husband G. LeRoy Johnson of Hudson, IN; and grandchildren, Lindsay and Nathan Bertch, Andrew and Brian Smist, Adam and Rosie McQuilkin and Stephen Mayer; and a great-grandchild, Zachary Mayer. A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, November 17 at 3 PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 21 Church St., Lockport. For more information call Cindy Smist at 434-7614. Burial was in South Scott cemetery in Steuben County, IN, on Thursday, November 1. Arrangements were by WEICHT FUNERAL HOME in Angloa, IN. Memorials may be made to CNS Tissue Bank for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Conditions, Indiana University School of Medicine, c/o Patti Case, Clinical Research Coordinator, Fort Wayne Neurological Center, 2622 Lake Ave., Ft. Wayne, IN 46805 or Girl Scouts of Niagara County, 5000 Cambria Rd., Lockport, NY 14094.