Our loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Bonnie Rae Mecham, age 85, passed away on October 24, 2024.
She was born on May 25, 1939 in Henrieville, Utah to Darrel Ray Blackwell and Lois Laura Chynoweth. In Bonnie’s early years she went to school in Henrieville, later attending Bryce Valley High in Tropic, Utah. She was involved in many activities including cheerleading.
On April 29, 1961, she married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Ernest Mecham and were later sealed in the Manti Temple April 29, 1976. They started their life and family together in Bicknell, Utah, later relocating to Thompson, Utah and finally settling in Green River, Utah.
Bonnie devoted her life to raising her family. She was an avid fan of her kid’s and grandchildren’s sports. She loved hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. Deer hunting was her passion, she was an excellent shot. Bonnie and Jerry enjoyed hunting, camping, and fishing. Many weekends and days off were spent on the mountain and in the desert. Some of their favorite sites in particular were Boulder Mountain, Griffon Top, Bryce Canyon, and out in the valley. After moving to Thompson, fishing at Weaver quickly became a favorite.
Bonnie lived for her grandchildren and loved them dearly. She tended them as much as she could. They would watch her expansive collection of Disney movies while they were all piled in the back bedroom drinking their Ovaltine.
Throughout her life Bonnie had many loves and horse riding with her friends was at the top of her list. Her first horse, Tommy, was a thoroughbred quarter horse cross who had a love of running. Her next horse was Honkey, a smaller black Tennessee walker. She broke and trained Honkey herself. Mom forged many friendships and bonds during those long trail rides with her friends. Another little-known fact was that Bonnie loved and played softball. She was very competitive in her league and was a fierce pitcher.
Throughout her life, Bonnie held many jobs, from car hop to telephone operator, flagging for road construction, grocer at Politano’s Grocery, Chow Hound, and lastly worked with her son Trevor at the Tamarisk Restaurant.
Bonnie was a member of the Green River LDS Ward and served as primary teacher and later president; although her acts of service didn’t just stay within the church walls. She had a special instinct for knowing who needed a healing touch. If anyone in town was faced with troubling news or a serious illness, Bonnie would make a homemade soup, lend a kind ear, and give a non-negotiable foot rub to help ease their pain and minds.
Once Bonnie and Jerry were both retired, their children grown and out of the house, the nightly car rides began. They would reliably report on the deer and antelope population and soon adopted a wild rabbit named Bunbun who they would bring generous amounts of scraps for dinner.
Though this time of loss is heavy on our hearts our family is reassured with the thought of Mom being reunited with Dad. Maybe their nightly rides have resumed, whether with cars,
horses or mules. Some girls are born to be princesses, but Bonnie was born to be a cowgirl, and we hope that she and dad are riding off into the sunset together.
The family would like to give a special thank you to CNS Hospice for their service and care for Bonnie, especially Autumn and Tracy.
Bonnie is survived by her children, Darrel (Jayme) Mecham, Trevor Mecham, Ty (Jayne) Mecham, Bobbie (Rudy) Brailsford; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lynda, April and Holly.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Mecham; parents, Darrel and Lois Blackwell; and sister, Fairy Livingston.
Funeral service, Friday, November 1, 2024, 12:00 noon, Green River Ward Chapel, where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Graveside service, Saturday, November 2, 2024, 12:00 noon, at the Henrieville Cemetery (200 North Cemetery Rd., Henrieville, UT 84736). Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends and family are always welcome daily and may share memories of Bonnie online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.