Bonita Gayle Peterson's Obituary
On a sunny Thursday morning in Memphis, TN, May 9, 2024, Bonita Gayle Peterson, 88, affectionately called “Mamaw” by her family and friends, began her day like any other with a cup of coffee, time with Jesus, a phone call to each of her daughters and her best friend then set up her pressure washer to start cleaning her driveway when the Lord had better plans for her day and called her home to be with Him. While the day of her passing was sudden and unexpected, it was no surprise to God nor was it a surprise to anyone who knew her that she was acting in true Proverbs 31 fashion, working hard, when she took her last breath on earth. Mamaw was the embodiment of a woman of God. As a true Proverbs 31 woman, she would rise early, work with willing hands, tend to her household, care for her land, clothe herself with strength and dignity laughing at the days to come. Wisdom and teaching were on her tongue, she didn’t eat the bread of idleness, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild rise and call her blessed, as did her husband. She was undoubtedly more precious than jewels, a woman who feared the Lord and she was worthy of praise. She was a creature of habit, always early, kept a pristine but welcoming home, loved to shop for clothes and shoes, lived by her calendar, and set in her ways. She loved her children and grandchildren and jumped at the chance to serve them. She was early to church every Sunday so she could “save seats”, and she gave her all in worship. She loved serving her community with the Daughters of the Nile, looked forward to outings with the lunch bunch, talking on the phone with her friends and loved being “Mamaw” to everyone she knew. She didn’t meet a stranger, gave good tight hugs and made people feel seen, known and loved. She created meaningful relationships with her daughters, kept in constant contact with them, interested with all they had going on in life, and spoke often of how proud she was of them, bragging about awards they’d won or projects they were working on. She loved her grandchildren with all her heart and made efforts to create meaningful memories whether it was visiting them, sharing in their interests, Face Timing them, taking them lunch at school, buying them lunch after church, attending sports or school activities, getting down on their level to play, imagine and nurture them. She had a special and unique bond with each of them and they always knew they were loved. She was a great listener, advice giver, comforter, encourager, and friend. She had a deep conviction and always wanted to maintain harmony in her relationships. She leaves a grieving family who loved her endlessly, but we have a peace, knowing for certain, that she believed in the life, burial and resurrection of Christ, and is now experiencing the first-hand power of being face to face and forever worshipping the King of Kings.
Bonita Gayle Cloud Peterson was born in Pampa, TX on March 12, 1936, to Earl and Era Cloud. She was the third of five sisters, all of whom have preceded her in death. She married the love of her life, Norman Robert “Pete” Peterson, on April 1, 1953. She is survived by her children, Gayle Moore (Ken) and Bobbie Kimbro (Dan) both residing in Brighton, TN; grandchildren, Jason Moore (Tani), Jeremy Moore (Nichol), Candice Brock (Justin) and Jason Morris; great-grandchildren, Seth Haynes, Austin Moore, Hudson Moore, Annabelle Fair, Maverick Morris, Sawyer Moore and Janie Moore; and great-great grandchild, Brantley Haynes, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. The family will celebrate Mamaw’s life at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 from 1:00pm until the service begins at 2:00pm Friday, May 17th. A graveside service will immediately follow.
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