Bonnie L. Montgomery

Bonnie Louise (Mathias) Montgomery, best known as Grama, Aunt Bonnie, or Gigi received her wings on the morning of January 14, 2022.  She is now in Heaven dancing with the love of her life, Junior Herold, the handsome Marine that swept her off her feet over 70 years ago.

Bonnie was born on August 25, 1929 to Ernest and Ruth (Strebe)Mathias at the Mathias homestead near Fulton.  Bonnie loved school, learning, and babysitting her little sister which gave her the foundation to become the exceptional woman that would listen, mentor, teach, love, and forgive others.  She was what every woman should aspire to be.  After meeting her you felt lucky to know her.

At Fulton High School, Bonnie was a cheerleader three years and president of her senior class.  She never saw a job she couldn’t do or a problem that she could not solve.  After graduation she worked as a bookkeeper at Sears Roebuck in Logansport and then at the Caston School bookstore.

When Bonnie married JH, little did she know that her life would be filled with such love, tenderness, and the adventure of raising four girls.  Now, you would think that because she was a farmer’s wife she would have regretted not having boys but no, she taught her girls that they could do anything that boys could do.  Bonnie taught her daughters to pick up field rocks, plow a field, pull a hay wagon and if it got too hot, how to take their shirts off and wear a bra as a bikini top with confidence.  She raised her girls to be thinkers, doers, problem-solvers and to be considerate of others and to treat people with respect.  Bonnie made sure that her daughters knew that they were cherished.

As time went on Bonnie finally got her boys. Her face would light up when her nephews came to visit and work at Maple Run Farm. She spoiled them by making sure they ate like kings.  She didn’t yell at them when they got into her diet caramels. Then along came her sons-in-law whom she loved dearly.  She made them jackets and mended their jeans even though her independent daughters said boys can sew too.

Being a fashion designer/seamstress was Bonnie’s pride and joy.  She could take an old blanket and make the most beautiful coat or a teddy bear.  She was a good cook and was famous for her apple dumplings.  She wrote a recipe book with her favorite recipes for all of her grandchildren.

In 1964, Bonnie designed, sewed and modeled a coat in the Indiana State Fair for which she received a champion ribbon. She was a devoted Christian and member of the United Methodist Church in Fulton where she enjoyed crafting, making mincemeat and noodles for her church bazaar.  She loved singing in the church choir and was a member of Fulton County Choral Club. 

Bonnie loved her family, it didn’t matter if you were born into, married into, brought into or fell into; she loved her family equally and unconditionally.  She will be missed by all.

These are some whose lives were changed forever because of Bonnie:  daughters Debbie Lee (Michael), Fort Myers, FL; Jann Williamson, Columbus, OH; Kristi Alber (Randy), Rochester, IN; Jill Kelley (Patrick), Broaddus, TX; sister, Sue Mitchell, Logansport; nephews, Marty Zartman, Matt Montgomery, Mark Montgomery; nieces, Cheryl Oliver, Susan Skidmore; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; great nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to Tracie Mahoney who was with Bonnie every day until the end to help make her passing so peaceful.  Also, thanks to all the caring people of Wynnfield Crossing and Kindred Care Hospice.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Fulton United Methodist Church or Caston Closet.

A gentle and quiet spirit is very precious in God’s sight.  1 Peter 3:4.

Arrangements by Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester, Indiana. Online condolences may be expressed at www.zimmermanbrosfh.com