May 27, 1925 - June 12, 2011

Longtime Ellensburg resident Bonnie Marsh died peacefully on June 12, 2011, at the age of 86.

Bonnie was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska to Thomas and Lillie (Sargent) Goad. In the early 1930s she moved with her family to Sheridan, Wyoming, where she graduated from Sheridan High School at the age of 16. In 1943 the Goad family came to Ellensburg.

Bonnie married Raymond Marsh in 1945 and together they raised their three daughters.

When the girls were all in school, Bonnie found her niche in the working world. She was Morgan Junior High School's office secretary from 1957 to 1965. She soon joined the staff at the Ellensburg Telephone Company until 1968 when she went to work at Evenson's Funeral Home. At the age of 75, after a brief retirement, she became one of the original partners of Affordable Funeral Care, a partnership that lasted several years. In March, because of ill health, she retired as office manager.

Bonnie dedicated her life to bringing a positive influence to the lives of others. When she knew she brought happiness to family, friends and members of the community, she too, felt happy and fulfilled.

She was an accomplished seamstress, famous both locally and abroad for her hand made Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls of which almost 2000 are known to exist. Bonnie loved road trips around the Northwest and reserved a special fondness for the beauty of the Kittitas Valley. She was an avid reader and possessed a wit and wisdom dear to her family, but her bold and often unconventional approach to problem solving became her trademark.

Bonnie was preceded in death by a sister and two brothers. Her husband, Ray, died in 1967.

She is lovingly survived by daughters Barbara (Chris) Williams of Gig Harbor, Annie Alwin of Ellensburg and Donna Allocca of Ellensburg; grandchildren Owen Williams and Jaya Williams, both of San Diego, Alison Alwin, Port Townsend, Robert Alwin, Seattle, and Courtney Allocca, Ellensburg; sisters Belva Nelson of Ellensburg and Laurie (Tony) Wilson, Federal Way; a brother, Robert Goad of Kent; and longtime companion Del Evans of Ellensburg. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews, including Virginia (Don) Aden and Jim Nelson, both of Ellensburg.

A CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE will be held Saturday, July 9, 2011, 1:00 p.m. at Hal Holmes Center. Private family inurnment will be at High Valley cemetery.

Memorials may be made in Bonnie's honor to Friends of Hospice, P.O. Box 1234, Ellensburg, WA. 98926.

Affordable Funeral Care is in charge of arrangements.

Affordable Funeral Care - June, 2011.