HELEN NAOMI BONNEVILLE

HELEN NAOMI BONNEVILLE Naomi Bonneville died after a brief illness on Sunday, May 8, 2011 at the age of 84. Born to Miles and Eleanor Kerr on January 12, 1927, she spent much of her childhood in Arkansas. She later attended L.S.U., graduating with a degree in Music Education. She met her husband, George Bonneville, when he was serving in the Army Air Corps and stationed in Louisiana. They married in 1948 and moved to Tacoma, George's hometown, where he began practicing law. Being a mother of three daughters occupied much of Naomi's time in the early years. While the girls were young, she was active in the church choir, Girl Scouts, Tacoma Performing Dance Company and many other local groups and charitable events. Gardening, skiing, boating and golfing were Naomi's passions. Except in the middle of winter, barely a day would go by without her being out in the yard. She was a fantastic skier, known by her skiing pals as "fearless leader" as she would always be the first one to jump off the cliff and say "follow me". Naomi was also a Cascade Ski School "bus mother" for over 20 years. Golfing well into her late 70's, she won many awards at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club. She enjoyed sailing and power boating around the sound and up into the San Juan Islands with family and friends. The retirement years allowed her to continue pursuing those passions, along with more travel. She is survived by her three daughters, Mary, Janice and Sara; sons-in-law Jerald Filgiano and John Olsen; four step grandchildren; and seven step great grand children. Her family and friends will miss her wry humor, energetic spirit and boundless love. A reception celebrating Naomi's life will be held on Saturday, May 21st at 10:00 a.m., at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club, 13204 Country Club Dr SW in Lakewood. There will be no memorial service and the family will gather privately to scatter her ashes at the family home in Long Beach. Memorial contributions can be made to the Tacoma Humane Society or MEOW Cat Rescue in Kirkland.