Bonnie J. Cole

Bonnie June Cole, 86, a lifelong resident of Moses Lake, passed away Monday, Jan. 24 at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. Bonnie was born April 14, 1924, in Neppel, Wash. (later re-named Moses Lake), the youngest of six children born to the pioneer family of Minor and Sally Burress. She graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1942 with her sweetheart, Verlyn Cole. The Burress and Cole families first connected when Verlyn’s father, E. B. Cole, encountered the doctor who was en route to delivering Bonnie but had become stuck in the mud. Mr. Cole and his team of horses came to the rescue. Bonnie and Verlyn’s romance began in the fourth grade, when Verlyn took up the violin just so he could sit next to Bonnie in the school orchestra. They played a violin duet for their graduation, and were married July 8, 1942. Their duet continued forever. They developed a farm and cattle ranch in Block 40 and were blessed with three daughters, nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. (Another great-grandchild will be born this year.) Verlyn passed away on July 24, 2003. He and Bonnie had been married 61 years. Bonnie was best known for her warm hospitality and fine food. She was a woman with a great sense of humor, who loved to laugh, and was always ready with a witty comeback. Devoted to her family, home, and church, she was an incredible wife, mom, mother-in-law, and “Grams.” Her commitment to love, honor, and hold her family above all else never failed. Bonnie’s refined mannerisms were complemented by her beauty, style, and immaculate dress. She maintained her beauty and class even through the last months of her life. Bonnie’s advice to her children and grandchildren was to “Pick the right spouse. Be happy and content. Be kind to each other, and that will reflect back on the children. Raise your children to love the Lord.” Bonnie is greatly missed by her family: daughters Ginger (Jack) Erickson, Judy (George) Twigg, and Cindy (Steve) Kalamakis; grandchildren Debi (Barry) McBroom, George (Christy) Twigg II, Bonnie Rae (Cliff) Cullings, Hailey Kalamakis, Hanna (Joel) Evans, Chris Erickson, Kathy (Carl) Lyons, Shelly (Stu) Parmalee; 15 great-grandchildren and a large extended family. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Verlyn; five siblings; and her granddaughter, Laurie Hoffman. Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan. 29th at 2 p.m., at the Moses Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at Crestview Christian School, 1601 West Valley Road, Moses Lake. Interment will follow at Pioneer Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be at Kayser’s Chapel in Moses Lake on Friday, Jan. 28th , 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 29th , 9 a.m. to noon.

Bonnie J. Cole

April 14, 1924 - January 24, 2011