BONNIE GENEVA HENDERSON

June 4, 1924 - November 4, 2010

Bonnie Geneva Henderson, 86, a long time resident of Merced passed away on Thursday morning in a Merced Hospital.

She was born in Dardanelle, Yell County Arkansas, the Daughter of Sol A. and Mary E. (Biggs) Alverson, later relocating to Hughson and Ceres, California. A wife and Mother of 5 children she was preceded in death by her husband Earnest G. Henderson, daughter Lynette (Henderson) Bowen, son Kelly Henderson, two sisters Elnora A. Ward of Hughson, Janie Mae Davis of Merced, and her brother James Hamp Alverson of Dardanelle Arkansas.

Surviving her are sons Keith, Scott and Frank Henderson and their families, this also includes 6 Grandsons, 1 Granddaughter, 4 Great Grandsons, 5 Great Granddaughters, and 2 Great-Great Grandsons.

She was a respected elder and attended Calvary Temple and Assembly of God churches in Merced. As a loving mother and grandmother she was the anchor for her family and a good friend to many who just knew her as "Bonnie or Geneva" the petite little woman they valued for her example of independence and guidance.Living a full life that began in Arkansas with roots in family farming in the Cotton and Soy growing regions, relocating to California while young, she then worked in the early days after high school in a local Creamery and sales in a Pharmacy. She had many family roots in Merced and also was a personal assistant for a family in Snelling during the Gold dredging period. After marriage they operated and managed farming operations in the Hughson area and relocated with her Husband (an Operating Engineer for Standard Oil) to Richmond, Ca, always returning back to the Modesto/Hughson area. She then moved to Barstow area (Hinkley) California finishing to raise her family for 20 years working with local restaurants until finally back to Merced where she retired with her husband, and remaining a Homemaker as most of her life, enjoying gardening, her family, close friends and grandchildren locally and a far.

Memorial Services are to be held 10am Friday, November 12th, 2010 at the Lakewood Funeral Home (Heritage Chapel) 900 Santa Fe Ave, Hughson, CA 95326.

A viewing will be from 9-10am with a brief graveside in Tuolumne Garden following the Chapel service. Leading the services will be Kathleen (Davis) Journey.

Donations to your favorite Charity may also be made in lieu of flowers. Lakewood Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements. A online guestbook is available for a remembrance at www.lakewoodhughson.com