Lavonne Bullis

Lavonne Bullis

Resident of San Bruno

Age 82, died at home on Thursday, September 9, 2010, as a result of the San Bruno gas-line explosion.

Born September 8, 1928 in Upland, CA, to Hugh and Viviette McLellan, Lavonne attended 18th Street and Upland Elementary Schools, Upland Junior High, Chaffey Union High and Chaffey Junior College (Ontario, CA). In 1951, she earned her B.S. and R.N. degrees from U.C.B.(S.F.), where she also met her fianc‚, Fred. They married September 2, 1951.

Lavonne loved music, playing piano from childhood. She also served as her church's organist while in Junior College, and would later accompany school and church choirs as need arose. As a newlywed, Lavonne worked as a nurse in the S.F. Public Health Dept. In 1957, she and Fred opened Serra Highlands Pharmacy in So. San Francisco. Many busy years ensued as homemaker, mother, asst. scout leader and the like. When their children were teens, Lavonne returned to nursing, retiring from Brookside Convalescent Hospital in 1993. She served faithfully at Bethany Presbyterian Church as deacon and elder, and as a volunteer at the Salvation Army and YBR2 Benefit Shop. Lavonne was a member of P.E.O., AAUW, and the Red Hat Society. Every summer, she spent a week camping with her extended family at their annual reunion.

Always, Lavonne loved her family and friends well. She is survived by her daughter Jeannie(Ed), son Gary(Terri), daughter-in-law Sue, grandchildren Megan, Janine, Melissa, Zack and Allison (Tim), her brother Tom (Joyce), sisters Marian (Gordon) and Carroll (Ed), and many precious nieces and nephews, to whom she was "Aunt Bonnie."

A Celebration of Life was held September 24, 2010, honoring Lavonne, and her son Greg and grandson Will, who also perished with her. A private interment will take place at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo. A memorial fund will be identified at a later date.