Bonnie Mae Nickles James, age 89, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026. She was born on August 4, 1936, in Portsmouth, Ohio; to Walter Virgil Nickles and Olive Etena Pollitt.

She married the love of her life, Donald Edward James, Sr., on September 13, 1952. Their love story included a wedding in Paris and a honeymoon in Rome—Paris, Kentucky, and Rome, Ohio—a detail Bonnie always enjoyed sharing. When their children were young, Bonnie and Don joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a decision that became a guiding foundation for their family life. In keeping with their faith, they were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.

Bonnie had a long career as a home health aide, where she formed deep meaningful, and lifelong bonds with the women she cared for. Her compassion, patience, and genuine love for people were evident in both her work and her personal life.  She was a person who genuinely believed in and looked for the goodness and kindness in other people and treated others with love and compassion.

Family was at the center of Bonnie’s world. She loved a good family dinner and especially enjoyed hosting family 4th of July BBQs and Christmas parties, creating warmth and laughter, and traditions that will be treasured for generations.  Family was always welcome and expected at her home.  There was nothing she loved more than a good visit with family and friends at her home.  Her home was filled with warmth and love and was always decorated with arts, crafts, and antiques and during the holidays, especially Christmas with festive décor.

She is survived by her children, Gloria Gail Turner (Steve), Orangeville, Utah, Daniel Lee James (Yolanda), Ferron, Utah, Brian Eugene James (Bing ling), Saratoga Springs, Utah, and Brent Allen James (Tracy), Portsmouth, Ohio. Bonnie is further survived by 11 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren; and her only living sibling, Arthur Nickles of Portsmouth, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Edward James, Sr.; son, Donald Edward “Donnie” James, Jr.; grandson, Bradley Turner; sisters, Colleen Johnson and Donna Jean Everman; and brothers, Virgil Nickles and Joe Nickles.

Bonnie will be remembered for her quiet strength, unwavering faith, deep devotion to her family, and the love she so freely gave. Her life was one of service, perseverance, and enduring kindness, and her legacy continues and lives through the many generations she helped build.

In Our Hearts

We thought of you today,

But that is nothing new.

We thought about you yesterday,

And days before that too.

We think of you in silence,

We often speak your name

Now all we have are memories.

And your picture in a frame,

Your memory is our keepsake.

With which we’ll never part,

God has you in his keeping

We have you in our heart,

-Unknown

Graveside Service, Monday, February 2, 2026, 11:30 a.m., Ferron City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Ferron Stake Center (555 South 400 West) in Ferron from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. prior to traveling to the cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Bonnie online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net