Roger Lee Bonney, 80, of Olivet, MI, died on Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, at Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson, MI.
According to his wishes, cremation rites were accorded. A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Oct. 9, beginning at 11 a.m. at Central Wesleyan Church in Jackson, MI. A private family inurnment will be conducted at Roseland Memorial Gardens in Jackson County, MI. Watson Funeral Home in Jackson, MI, is assisting the family.
Mr. Bonney was born Jan. 20, 1940, the eldest of three children to Roger and Madonna (Sisson) Bonney. He married Helen Hawkins, and she survives.
After graduating from Jackson High School in 1958, he attended Houghton College, NY. Upon returning home to Jackson, he began decades of employment with Sears, Roebuck, Inc., taking his family to Bloomington-Normal, Hillsboro and Troy with various management positions before moving to Olivet, MI, in retirement.
In typical fashion, Mr. Bonney was busier in retirement than he ever was working. He served on the board of directors of Family Life Radio and was an active board member of Central Wesleyan Church as longtime treasurer and piano player extraordinaire.
He enjoyed race weekends at Michigan International Speedway, coordinating security efforts at gate 57 and on pit road, especially for NASCAR. He was the person responsible for lighting up the skies with fireworks around mid-Michigan for Night Magic Displays, planning every show down to the finest detail.
Mr. Bonney absolutely loved making people happy with his art in the sky at the state capitol during Silver Bells in the City, 4th of July celebrations at Delta Township, Meridia Township, Eaton Rapids and Olivet Firemens’ Festival. The shows that were his favorites were the ones for the kids at the Great Lakes Burn Camps every year.
In his later years, with the rise of the internet, he enjoyed sharing every cat video known to exist with family, friends and strangers.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Bonney is survived by his children, Roger (Rebecca) Bonney, Kim (Chris) Lee and Mike (Laura) Bonney; four grandchildren, Vanessa (Jake) Ubl, Ashlee (Sonny) DeLand, Rhett Miller and Sophia Bonney; six great-grandchildren, Jayden and Adyson Ubl, Caden, Mason and Bradlee DeLand and Grady Mast; brothers, Wendell (Marlene) Bonney and Edward Bonney; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be directed to Family Life Radio in Tucson, AZ, Central Wesleyan Church in Jackson, MI, or Youth Haven Ranch in Rives Junction, MI.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.watson-funeral-chapels.com.
