BONITO, Mildred (Mom)

The White Mountain Independent Show Low, Arizona 03/02/2004 Mildred "Mom" Bonito, 77, died Feb. 24, 2004 in Whiteriver. She was born in Cibecue the second oldest child of five. As a young adult she worked in the girls dormitory at East Fork Mission Nursery and also at the old Whiteriver Hospital as a nurse's aide. She married Hiller Bonito and they had five beautiful children. "Mom was a great storyteller and would share tales of the Wagon trains, mountains, dances and other memories. She enjoyed acorn picking, which she often did on horseback in her younger days. Most of all she enjoyed going to the 7-Mile Miracle Church and attending choir practice while she kept up to her very last days. Mildred is survived by her children, daughters: Reva Thompson, Abigail Parker, Fayrene Williams, Zelma Bravo, Glorianna Bonito; 24 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hiller Bonito; daughter Shirley Bonito Lavender; son-in-law Nathaniel Lavender, and grandson Japeth Lavender. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 6 at the 7-Mile Miracle Church with a two-day wake beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 4. Interment will be in the Whiteriver Cemetery. Owens Mortuary of Show Low handled the arrangements.