Bonnie Jean “Findley” Shields was born July 22, 1927 in Kingston, Oklahoma, to Andrew Ervin “AE” and Addie Susan “Gorrell” Findley. She passed to her heavenly home on October 22, 2022, at the age of 95 years.
After graduating from Kingston High School, Bonnie enrolled in East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma, where she was immediately one of the best trumpet players in the marching band. Her ambition was to be a band director like her father. That probably would have happened if she hadn’t met the love of her life, Otis Shields, in October of her first semester. They were married two months later, December 28, 1946, and that marriage lasted until his death in 2005.
Bonnie, known as Nana, B, or Mom to so many, treated her son’s and grandchildren’s friends like they were her own. Her love and hospitality made everyone feel like they were at home when they were at the Shields house on Latta Road. That house was her home for 60 years. Bonnie threw huge back yard parties for friends and family on the 4th of July each year, and she hosted the annual Christmas party with her Sunday School Class from the Ada First United Methodist Church.
An avid Oklahoma State University fan, she made many close friends at ballgames and watch parties. She was always the life of the party. She started her career working outside the home, first for Dub Scott Insurance, and eventually for Retail Merchants Credit Bureau of Ada. She worked for the credit bureau for fifty-three years, retiring at the age of 81 due only to doctor’s orders.
As a young girl, Bonnie always had a desire to travel and see new things and places. She was able to fulfill her dreams with Otis, as they were blessed to travel extensively to many foreign destinations.
Bonnie had boundless energy and a zest for life that was contagious to all who knew and loved her. However, she was always that same small town Oklahoma girl, who put her faith and family first in everything she did.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Lorene Lasiter, Lucille Johnson, Marjorie Francis, brother Ervin Findley Jr, and her loving husband, Otis M Shields.
Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Charles Lynn Shields and wife Mary Ann of Shawnee, Ok; Granddaughters; Stacy Engle of Shawnee, Ok and Leslie Lemmon and husband Mark of Celina, Tx; Great Granddaughters; Keagan Engle, Chase and Rylee Lemmon; her very special “family”, Jenny Cypert and husband Tony Gibson of Ada, Ok, and their children Mason, Charlie and husband Connor Carroll, Tulsa, and Lincoln, Oklahoma City; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
A visitation with family and friends will be from 5:00-7:00 PM, Tuesday, November 1st at Criswell Funeral Home of Ada. The Service will be at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, Nov 2nd at First United Methodist Church, Ada, Oklahoma with Reverend Brian Matthews officiating. Grave side services will follow at 2:00 PM at the Kingston, Oklahoma Cemetery.
The family requests that those who wishing to make memorials in leu of flowers, may do so to the Kingston High School Alumni Association, c/o Kingston Public Schools, P.O. Box 370, Kingston, Oklahoma 73439.
