BYRD, Bonnie

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 06/13/2014 Bonnie Beals Byrd, 88, of Snowflake died June 2, 2014, in Phoenix, surrounded by her family. She was born July 24, 1925, to Richard Francis and Mary Alice Birdno Beals in Pima, the 11th child of 12 children in her family. She came from a long line of Mormon pioneers. Bonnie married Jerry Thompson in 1942 and had a son, Jerry Leroy in 1943. Bobby Eugene and Larry Lanier joined the family in the next two years, but both died as newborns. In October 1954, Bonnie married Vance Wilkins Byrd. The Byrd family owned a hotel, restaurant and grocery store in Willcox, where Vance and Bonnie worked during the early years of their marriage. Soon they relocated to St. David, where they lived and raised their two youngest sons. Her life was defined by hard work. She was a mail carrier and door-to-door saleswoman. She sold products for Sarah Country Jewelry, Stanley Cleaning Products, Watkins, Mason Shoes and a lingerie company. She cleaned houses and was a nanny in Benson. The last job she had was working for The Salvation Army in Mesa, quitting in her early 80s to finally retire in Snowflake. She was a lifelong member of the LDS Church, where she held many callings. Her favorite was caring for the young children in the nursery. She enjoyed singing, dancing and spending time with friends and family. Survivors include her sons, Richard of Perth, Ontario, Canada, and Ron (Cari) of Snowflake; sister Cledith Baker of Yuma; 10 grandchildren and a multitude of great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vance; sons Leroy, Bobby and Larry; granddaughter Janice K. Thompson, great-granddaughter Amy Teague; eight sisters and two brothers. Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. Friday, June 13, at the Snowflake Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 175 E. Ninth St. South. A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. before the funeral. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. June 14 in at the St. David Cemetery. Bunker’s Garden Chapel Funeral Home and Richardson’s Mortuary handled arrangements.