Lavonna Jean (Bonnie) Woolbright, 83 of Portland, Oregon, much beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed into the Presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 27, 2015. Surrounded by her family.
Bonnie was born November 10, 1931 to dairy farmers Thomas and Lucy Smith of Aztec, New Mexico. She was joined by one sister, Netha Smith. Following a brief detour to California, the family moved to Tillamook, Oregon, where they resumed dairy farming and where Bonnie spent her growing up years. Bonnie was occupied on the farm and active in her local Nazarene Church. She graduated from Tillamook High School in 1948.

After High School Bonnie attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, where she met her husband, Marshall Raye Woolbright of Richland, Washington. Raye and Bonnie were married July 27, 1952 Bonnie worked for a period of time as a telephone switchboard operator before she began her career as a wife, full time homemaker and mother. She was happily and completely, committed to marriage, home and children, with all the sacrifices that entailed and her family was the joy of her life.

The couple lived first in Tillamook, Oregon, then at Parks AFB in California followed by Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas while Raye served in the military. Post military, Raye accepted a position with Montgomery Ward in Spokane, Washington. He was transferred to Albany, Oregon then to Portland, where the family settled long term, now with four children.

In Bonnie’s free time she was an artist, a seamstress, and an avid reader with a wide range of interests. She loved antiques, nature, her backyard critters and her kitty. She loved the Oregon coast. Most of all, she loved her Lord, the Sustainer of her life. Bonnie had a kind nature and a warm, open heart. She will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her husband Marshall Raye Woolbright of Portland; a sister, Netha Oldenkamp of Tillamook, Oregon; son Terrel (and Becky) Woolbright of Aloha, Oregon; daughter Diana (and Paul) Hofrichter of grand Island, Nebraska; son Mark (and Karen) Woolbright of Helix, Oregon; son Rob (and Gina) Woolbright of Vancouver, Washington; thirteen grandchildren, and twenty-two great grandchildren.

A memorial service in celebration of Bonnie’s life will be held Saturday, April 11, 2 P.M. at the Eastside Free Methodist Church, 650 SE 139th Avenue, Portland, Oregon.

If you would like to donate towards Lavonna’s medical bills and/or to her church, Eastside Free Methodist please contact Terry at DonateToMom@comcast.net for instructions.
Thank you.