1941 – 2023
Bonnie Jean Packer Stowell
Bonnie Jean Packer Stowell, 82, of Bellevue, Washington passed away on November 8, 2023. She was born on February 11, 1941 in Havre, Montana to Newell Packer and Eleanor Margaret Foxall. Bonnie was the sixth of ten children born to the Packer family, eight of which lived to adulthood.
She spent the majority of her youth growing up in Pocatello, Idaho and attended Pocatello High School where she caught the eye of her future husband, Lynn Grant Stowell. She was married to him at the age of 19 for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls, Idaho LDS Temple on August 26, 1960. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in 2023.
They lived with their family of four children mostly living in Seattle, Portland, Spokane and eventually Bellevue. They lived for the past 45 years in the same home on Woodridge hill in Bellevue.
Bonnie was active in her church and community. She and her husband raised their children in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she served in a variety of capacities providing compassionate service, teaching young children and youth, playing the piano and organ and looking after the needs of the fellow members of her church and community. She lived by her beliefs and followed the example of her Savior, Jesus Christ, every single day of her life.
Bonnie was a contributing member of her community and made life better for others everywhere she went. She was involved in her kids PTA, she volunteered her time for over 40 years in the Bellevue public schools and was known as “Grandma Bonnie” by the kindergarteners and 1st graders she worked with in her daughter’s classroom. She regularly donated to the local blood bank–donating 48 pints over her lifetime.
She took her responsibilities in the home very seriously, raising her children, keeping a tidy home, and developing skills to benefit the family such as sewing, cooking, baking and living within her means. As her kids got older, she worked for several decades at The Exchange and Automatic Data Processing Corporation.
To know Bonnie was to love her. Her talents in the kitchen were legendary. If Bonnie knew you, you were probably the recipient of her famous chocolate chip cookies, homemade breads, pies and brownies. If you were sick or going through a tough time, you probably received one of her meals in your home. She was known to make meals for others, even when she herself wasn’t feeling 100%.
Bonnie loved to play the piano and made sure that all of her kids had the opportunity to take piano lessons at some point in their lives. She enjoyed oil painting, a good card game and being with family and friends. She always looked forward to gathering her family together at family reunions where she could spend quality time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Newell and Eleanor Packer, her brothers Newell La Mar, Arthur Milo, and Gary Wallace, and her sisters Eleanor Larene, Lehla Lavon, Marlene Joy and Marion Carol. Her dearly beloved son-in-law, Tyler Jason Croshaw, passed away four days after her passing. She is survived by her husband, Lynn, her sister Janice Mae Packer Hunsaker (Robert), and her brother, David Dean Packer (Pat). She is also survived by her children Jeff Stowell, Kelye Kneeland (Boyd), Blake Stowell (Chelsey), Melissa Croshaw and her foster daughter, Paige Booth Blair, in addition to her nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
The family thanks all of the incredible caregivers from Overlake Hospital, Happy Quest In-Home Care and Evergreen Health Hospice Services that provided great care and nurturing at the end of Bonnie’s life, as well as Barton’s Funeral Home and Sunset Hills Memorial Cemetery for their care and professionalism. They also thank the many friends and neighbors who brought in meals, flowers and expressions of condolence to Bonnie’s family during the last month of her life. We have been blessed beyond words.
A memorial service will be held for Bonnie on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 14536 Main Street, Bellevue, WA 98007. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Sunset Hills Memorial Cemetery at 1215 145th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98007. In her honor, attendees of her services are invited (but not required) to wear some lavender or purple, her favorite color.
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