Oleta Bonarden

Oleta Bonarden, 83, passed away Sunday, July 22, at her home in Clovis. She was born on December 21, 1928 in Eldorado, Oklahoma to Hubert Ruby Mitchell and graduated from high school in 1944 in Roswell, NM.

Oleta Mitchell met Marvin Bonarden on a blind date in October of 1947 and on May 30,1948, they were married in Tempe, AZ. Within a few years, Marvin was transferred by the Santa Fe Railroad to Artesia, NM, where Linda was born in 1950. They were then transferred to Clovis in
1953, where Marilyn and Connie were born in 1954 and 1956 respectively. Oleta was never idle and used her skills as an excellent seamstress to make clothes for her daughters. She also started doing alterations in her home but was relieved a few years later to give that up when she became a bookkeeper. Oleta produced the highest quality results in any task she undertook. She served many Clovis businesses well as a bookkeeper, doing their work accurately and always on time but her interest in her clients extended far beyond their business matters. Most of them saw her on a regular basis and spent countless hours sitting at her desk discussing various topics with her, both personal and businessrelated. It was one of the greatest joys of her life and when illness limited her contact with them, she missed seeing them very much.

She and Marvin owned a mountain cabin in northern New Mexico and enjoyed spending time there with their family. Oleta was a past member of Alpha Theta. She had a beautiful alto voice and used it to bless others as she sang for countless funerals at the West 21st Street Church of Christ. In addition, she served the church faithfully by serving as the bookkeeper on a volunteer basis for over fifty years. Oletas favorite saying and one she kept where she could often see it was Old bookkeepers never die, they just lose their balance. The challenges of failing health never diminished Oletas optimism for the future or her desire to work and walk again.

Survivors include three daughters: Linda Mario Quintana of Riverside, CA, Marilyn Bill Blackard of Clovis, NM, Connie Thad Fuller of Tijeras, NM five grandchildren: Anthony Staci Quintana, Matthew Wendy Quintana, Stephanie Richard Shaw, Wesley Cadi Blackard, and Katie Fuller and seven great grandchildren: Rylee, Chance, Gavin, Michael, Trenton, KieLynn, and Koelton. Oleta was predeceased by two brothers: Leland and Marshall, her parents and her husband, Marvin, on August 16, 2002.

Funeral services will be Saturday, July 28, 2:00 pm at West 21st Street Church of Christ with Jack Gordon officiating. Her grandsons and great grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Burial will follow at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. The family suggests memorials to the American Heart Association, PO Box 90790, Albuquerque, NM 871990790 for those wishing to do so.

The family would also like to express their deepest gratitude to Molly Navarro for being such a loving caregiver and to Hope Moyers of PRMC Home Healthcare for the compassionate care she provided to Oleta for an extended period of time.

Arrangements are under the direction of SteedTodd Funeral Home, 800 E. Manana Blvd, Clovis, New Mexico 575 7635541 The online guest book may be signed at www.steedtodd.com.

Service

21st Street Church of Christ
1720 W. 21st Street
Clovis, NM  88101
Saturday, July 28, 2012
2:00 p.m.

Cemetery

Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens
1601 E. Llano Estacado
Clovis, NM  88101

Memorial Contributions

P. O. Box 90790
Albuquerque, NM  87199