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BORN
1933
DIED
2015
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Bonnie Black Obituary
Bonnie Ruth (Hyler) Black, age 81, passed away peacefully in Bellevue on May 1, 2015. Bonnie was truly a westerner - she was born in Utah on July 31, 1933 to Ruth (Selley) and Clarence Hyler, and lived in Arizona and California before moving to Washington in 1975. Bellevue became her adopted home for the final forty years of her life.
Bonnie graduated from Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing in Salt Lake City in 1954. She relocated to Sacramento with three other nurses with whom she became lifelong friends. She intended to specialize in pediatrics. But in 1956 after marrying E. John Black, a field engineer for General Electric (later, Honeywell), her plans changed. She "retired" from nursing and devoted her life to raising her family, a decision she never regretted. After the kids were grown, Bonnie and John relished the opportunity to travel to exotic locations in John's Honeywell territory, including Alaska, Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and People's Republic of China!
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years. She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Black and her husband William N. Zagotta of Seattle, WA and by her son, Douglas J. Black, and his wife, Janet I. Black, of Issaquah, WA. Bonnie is also survived by several cousins and their families.
A celebration of Bonnie's happy life will be held at St. Madeline Sophie Catholic Church, 4400 130th Pl SE, Bellevue, WA on Wednesday May 20th at noon, followed by a reception. Please sign Bonnie's online guest book at sunsethillsfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Seattle Humane Society, the American Heart Association, or the International Mountain Guides' Sherpa fund. We wish to thank publicly her physician of forty years, Dr. Sandra Rice, as well as the staffs of Visiting Angels of Kirkland, Sunrise of Bellevue, and Overlake Hospital for the compassionate care Bonnie received.
We will forever remember Bonnie's optimism, joyful spirit, and dedication to finding good in every person she met.
"The most manifest sign of wisdom is continued cheerfulness."
-- Montaigne
Arrangements by Sunset Hills Funeral Home, (425) 746-1400.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Bonnie Black
Sponsored by The Family.
Aditi Mukhopadhyay
July 15, 2015
Bonnie was my best friend and I will miss her so much! She came to our house in Eaglesmere with delicious baked goodies, one evening in the late spring of the year 1980! Our one year old Josh, my husband and I had just moved in from California to our new house, exactly opposite from the Blacks house on the upper side of the hill! Her open smile, loving welcome that day and countless other thoughtful giving over the next few years of staying in that house, started a relationship that continued with an annual ritual of calling after Thanksgiving, setting up the small Christmas Tree with a string of lights, ornaments that John and Bonnie had given us in 1980! We had moved away back to California after our second son Neil was born in 1984, but the tradition continued and will, as long as I live, now with our Grand daughter, 18 months old Fern! She celebrated her first Christmas under that tree, after I spoke with Bonnie last November with our annual updates of our families! She lovingly spoke about Sue, Bill, Doug and Janet and asked about us! We feel blessed and believe we were touched by an ANGEL! I will miss her dearly!
With sincere gratitude and sadness, sending our love and best wishes to all who will miss her for a long time to come! May we all have peace!
May 20, 2015
Bonnie will be missed here on our street. She was a great friend and neighbor. We had many chats over the nearly 40 years I have lived in her neighborhood, and also lots of lunches. So sorry to lose her. Joyce Bashey
Sue Knowles
May 20, 2015
Bonnie always had a great story to share. She loved to share a story about her cat Heather, a friend or the neighborhood, and she was immensely proud of her children. After visiting with Bonnie, you always came away feeling uplifted. Her laugh filled your day with smiles, as will memories of Bonnie.
May 19, 2015
We enjoyed your phone calls and keeping in touch at Applebee's lunches. You were truly a lovely person whom everyone liked to be around. I was always impressed by your ability to get each person at our table of 10 into the conversation at those Honeywell dinners. And Hallmark stores will miss you because you sent out cards to everyone for every occasion including Halloween and Thanksgiving! We'll miss you so much, my friend, for so many reasons.
Pat and Stan Okazaki (Mill Creek, WA)
Linda & Roger Clay
May 19, 2015
Bonnie always had a smile and enjoyed having visitors. She loved her family and will be missed. Lots of great memories.
Rogene Kay
May 17, 2015
Bonnie was always cheerful and loved to have people visit her. Her ready smile and love for her family & pets was incomparable. She will be missed but she has been reunited with John and I know she is smiling!
Donald Miller
May 16, 2015
You always had a smile a warm heart for when I came to visit, that will always be remembered and you will not be forgotten.
Eileen clay
May 16, 2015
My True Friend The good times we shared together I will treasure. for ever we could always find something to laugh about. You have left me with so many precious memories.I will think of things we did and we will laugh together for you are with me in spirit always.
Warmly My Good Friend, always signed your emails
Eileen MM
American Heart Association
May 15, 2015
May your memories of the wonderful times you shared with your loved one comfort you and your family, today and always.
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Sunset Hills Funeral Home - Bellevue1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98007
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