Bonnie Myers

Although her life came to an end much too soon, Bonnie Myers made a significant impact in the lives of all who were within her reach. She was never one to find being a mother to be mundane work, rather, she viewed her role as a mother as both her highest calling and her richest blessing. Always willing to sacrifice for others, Bonnie worked hard in everything she did and has even been called a perfectionist. One never needed to wonder what she thought about things as Bonnie didn’t hesitate to call it like she saw it. She was accompanied by both a graceful courage and a quiet strength that never wavered, even when engaged in the fight for her life. Bonnie will be deeply missed while her memory is forever cherished by all who were blessed to know and love her.

The 1960s were a time of great change in America that were filled with numerous noteworthy events. It was during this time that we elected the young John F. Kennedy as our 35th President of the United States, only to mourn his death just a short time later. Although civil rights had been gaining momentum throughout the 1950s, the movement really came to the forefront during the sixties because of the unending efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King. It was just as this decade was dawning that Raymond and Donna (Harvey) Eisler were thrilled to welcome their daughter, Bonnie Rae, into their hearts and home in Lansing, Michigan. Born on April 1, 1961, she was joined in her family by her older brother, Joseph, who was six years her senior. She was a good natured and happy baby right from the start, bringing such joy to their family.

From the time she was a young girl Bonnie was a bustle of activity. She loved things like playing outside, but she was also an avid reader who loved going to the library. With her appetite for reading it was no surprise that she enjoyed everything about school and excelled at many subjects as a student at St. Joseph Catholic School. Bonnie received the Christian Student Award for good behavior for three consecutive years and she was also very popular among her peers. English, math, and Spanish were her favorite subjects, and she also played both basketball and tennis while attending St. Johns High School. In fact, Bonnie was the number one singles player on the entire high school team. She later went on to graduate from high school in 1979.

New and exciting changes were in store for Bonnie when she met a man named Mark Myers through a mutual friend. They began dating and were later married in 1980. Together they were blessed with the births of three children, Kyle, Sara, and Bret. As mothers go Bonnie was simply the best as her children always knew that they were deeply loved and came first in her life. She was protective and supportive of her children, forever making whatever sacrifices were necessary for them in ways both great and small. Bonnie loved baking and made a point of having family dinners on the weekends while dressing her children up for Halloween was a favorite as well. The Myers family enjoyed traveling up North together, often staying at a cabin at Beaver Creek Resort in Gaylord. There, they did plenty of snowmobiling in the winter and boating in the summer. Although their marriage came to an end after 26 years, Bonnie was forever grateful to Mark for the children they shared.

In everything she did Bonnie was one to work hard. While in high school she worked as a legal secretary in addition to holding down her studies. She continued working there once she graduated as well. Throughout the years Bonnie excelled at many different jobs and was truly a jack of all trades. For the last 14 years Bonnie worked as an administrative assistant for the City of St. Johns. As someone who loved her community, she also worked as a volunteer for St. Vincent De Paul, Safe Kids, and at Sparrow Clinton Hospital. Through the years she also supported many other community organizations and events. At home Bonnie could often be found out in her yard as she was very particular and wanted her yard just so. She never really viewed yard work as work since she just loved being outdoors. Bonnie was an accomplished pianist who loved playing. Since her kids loved dancing to the theme song from Charlie Brown, this was one of her more frequent pieces. For years Bonnie was an avid golfer and always had a special place in her heart for animals, especially cats.

Bonnie and her loved ones were given a tough pill to swallow when she was diagnosed with cancer in September of 2013. It wasn’t surprising to those who knew Bonnie that she was a fighter through until the end. She never gave up and took whatever was required without complaint. Throughout the valleys in her life, Bonnie held fast to her strong faith.

Kindhearted, compassionate, and generous, Bonnie Myers was a lifelong resident of the community she loved. She was always thoughtful of others, never forgetting birthdays, anniversaries, or other special days, and she was loyal to her loved ones as well. Bonnie was a loving mother who was selfless when it came to her children, and her devotion to them was unmatched. She was not only smart, but she had a great memory, too, and she regularly gave of her time and talents to those around her. Bonnie will never be forgotten.

Bonnie Rae (Eisler) Myers died on November 29, 2014. Bonnie’s family includes her children, Kyle (Erin) Myers of Kalamazoo, Sara Myers of St. Johns, and Bret Myers of Coeur d’Alene, ID; mother, Donna Eisler; brother, Joseph Eisler; father and mother in law, Ross (Sharon) Myers; brother in law, Grant (Leslie) Myers; sisters in law, Robin (Mark) Ingalls, Holly (David) Beveridge and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Bonnie was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Eisler; mother in law, Catherine Myers; two uncles and three aunts. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, December 5, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns with Fr. Michael Williams presiding. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., on Thursday, December 4, 2014, with a scripture service at 7 p.m., at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns. Memorial contributions may be made to Bonnie’s family. To learn more about Bonnie and view her Life Story film, visit her personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/103770. The family is being served by Osgood Funeral Homes.