Bonnie Fay Schalliz

Bonnie Fay Schalliz, passed away on Oct 7, 2014 at her home in Sonoma surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Creston, Nebraska on April 17, 1925 to Willie Reeves and Luella Collins King. She enjoyed the small town life of Creston, swimming at the local pool, taking piano and dancing lessons. The family moved to Compton, CA. when Bonnie was a teenager. She finished high school and attended Compton College.

Down the street from her Compton home lived Patrick Schallitz, the love of her life. They were married May 24, 1945. They were happily married for 66 years. They moved to Anaheim, Ca. where they raised their family. While living in Anaheim, she returned to college where she completed her AA degree. She was the family resource for the names of flowers, birds, far flung places and unusual travel routes. She had excellent recall which made her adept at crossword puzzles even in her later years.

Bonnie and Pat moved to Sonoma in the spring of 1996 to be closer to their family. They enjoyed their close proximity to nature and traveled frequently to favorite spots which included Point Reyes, Patrick’s Point and Mendocino. Bonnie was a voracious reader. She was a long time member of a book club in Sonoma, where she made many dear friends. Bonnie was a loving mother, grandmother and friend. She had great skill in bringing out the best in others and remained a kind, and good hearted person all of her days. She demonstrated grace and equanimity even during these last most challenging years with the loss of Patrick and battling cancer. She will be dearly missed.

Bonnie is survived by: her siblings, Darlene Jones and Ronald King; her children: Sharon Blessing-Hawkins, Karen (and husband, John) Hirsimaki, and Timothy (and wife, Rhoda) Schallitz; her grandchildren: John Blessing, Shane and Patrick Schallitz, Martin and Signe Hirsimaki (and husband, Eric) Muzzy; and her great-grandson, Axel Muzzy. She is also survived by many dear nieces and nephews.

A private service will be held for her. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 60 East 56th Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10022; or to the National Recreation and Park Association, 22377 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, VA 20148-4501. Arrangements cared for by Duggan’s Mission Chapel, Mission Cremation Service. Inquiries may be made to them at (707) 996-3655 or www.duggansmissionchapel.com.