PUNTENNY, Bonnie

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Wednesday, July 11, 2007 Bonnie Pierce Puntenney, 88 of Paradise Valley, Ariz., peacefully went home to be with her beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, July 2, 2007. She was a native of Phoenix, born Aug. 18, 1918, to N. Clyde and Hazel Pierce, the second of four children. She is survived by her older brother C. Delbert Pierce of Prescott, Ariz., and her younger sister Marjorie Pierce Avery of San Antonio. Her younger brother, William L. Pierce preceded her in death. Bonnie and her siblings grew up in the rural Phoenix-Scottsdale area with a visionary, entrepreneurial dad from Missouri. Clyde Pierce had farming in his blood and upon his arrival in the Valley in early 1912 and he began to purchase farmland in the area. Bonnie inherited his passion for gardening, farming and ranching, and she tenderly passed her love for the land along to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bonnie attended Scottsdale High School and graduated in 1936. She went on to the University of Arizona where she majored in textiles in the College of Agriculture, School of Home Economics (now known as the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences). Bonnie was also active in the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and other campus activities. She graduated in 1940. While at the University of Arizona, Bonnie met the love of her life, William Hazel Puntenney, a native of Camp Verde, Ariz. On Oct. 25, 1941, they were married in Phoenix and enjoyed 58 years together before Bill's death in 1999. The Lord blessed them with three children, Peggy Puntenney Withers (Bob) and fraternal twins, James W. Puntenney (Jo) of Prescott and Timothy P. Puntenney (Diane) of Tucson, Ariz. Bonnie was also blessed with eight grandchildren, to whom she was known as "Bama," John (Tina), Taylor (Stacey) and Jeremy (Debbie) Rhodes; Catherine Withers Bpe (Geir Anders) and Rob Withers (Molly); Elizabeth and Will Puntenney; and Josh Puntenney (Julia). Bonnie was also deeply grateful to enjoy the lives of eight great-grand-children, Chance and Ainsley Rhodes, Peyton, Parker and Pierce Rhodes; Sarah and Abigail Withers; and Emma Boe. In the early 1970s, Bonnie began a passion for studying the Bible. She saw a great need for an organized Bible study in the Phoenix Area. In Tucson, she found Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). She went to a class and knew this was what the Valley needed. She learned how to establish BSF there and was instrumental in beginning classes. Over the past 35 years, BSF has continued to grow; today, it is a Valley-wide organization that has touched thousands of lives for Christ. Bonnie also volunteered in her community in ways too numerous to mention. In all she did, she was dedicated, to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. Bonnie and Bill belonged to Scottsdale Bible Church and have many friends there. Bonnie excelled in many ways, but especially had a green thumb in gardening and was a voracious, reader. She made her life's work being a wonderful wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother and an exceptional friend to many. A memorial celebration of Bonnie's life will be 3 p.m. Saturday, July 14, 2007, at St. Barnabas on the Desert Episcopal Church, 6715 N. Mockingbird Lane, Scottsdale, Ariz., 85253. In lieu of flowers, please send a contribution to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, Ariz., 85014. A special thank you to the dedicated and devoted caregivers who have given Bonnie such tender, loving care over the last few years. You are the BEST! Information provided by survivors.