Freestone County, Texas Obituaries Verna Ann Spurgeon Bonner Verna Ann Spurgeon Bonner age 70 of Corsicana passed away on July 4, 2014 in Corsicana, TX. surrounded by family members. Born August 16, 1943 in Corsicana to Vernon Ishmeal Spurgeon and Geneva Annette (Ann) Barker, she descended from pioneer settlers of Navarro, Freestone and Ellis Counties. She married the love of her life Preston W. Bonner on June 17, 1961 in Dallas, Texas. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 17, 2011. Verna is survived by her husband Preston of Corsicana, three sons and their families as follows: Lowry Wayne Bonner and wife Mackie of Lorena and their two daughters Jessica of Crawford, Texas and Brandi of Littleton, Colorado; Jesse Ray Bonner and wife Lisa and their children Reed and Rylie of Coppell, Texas, Justin Bonner and wife Jami and daughter Ryleigh of Fairfield, Texas, Lela Bonner Erwin and husband John Michael Erwin and children Skylar, Ashlynn, and Parker of Teague, Texas, and Bradley Bonner and wife Macy of Fairfield, Texas; Pressly Bonner and wife Jasmine and son Aaron of Kaufman, Texas; a sister Pat Burrow of Alpine, Texas and sister in law Doris Bonner Eakes of Winkler, Texas. Verna spent her life in service to others. She loved her family, church, libraries, museums and history. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church of Winkler for 30 years where she served as Sunday School teacher for various age groups, historian, VBS Director and Teacher. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Alpine for 13 years where she also served as a teacher and treasurer. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Corsicana for 5 years where she served as teacher of the Rebecca Sunday School Class before following the call to Northside Baptist Church of Corsicana along with her husband Preston. Verna was a 29 year member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She took great pride in her Southern Heritage. She was honored by the Texas Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy with an Honorary Texas Division President title because of her years of work and dedication to the group. At the time of her illness, she was president of the local chapter-the Colonel Roger Q. Mills Chapter 2466. Her love of history and genealogy led her to assist in organizing the Navarro County Genealogical Society in 1978. This began her volunteer work at the Corsicana Public Library in the Genealogy Department, an association which continued throughout the years until present time. Verna became involved in the Navarro County Historical Society in 1973 when assisting to secure a Texas State Historical Marker for New Hope Baptist Church and the St Elmo Cemetery. Other markers she assisted in securing over the years are: Birdston Valley Church and Cemetery, Burleson Family Cemetery, Winkler Masonic Lodge and Community, Ward Prairie Baptist Church, Lake Chapel Cemetery, and First Baptist Church of Alpine, Texas. Verna helped to gather data for publication of Navarro County History Books Volume II-V. She has written numerous historical and genealogical articles for both the Navarro County Historical Society and the Navarro County Genealogical Society. She was honored by the Navarro County Historical Society by being inducted into the Historical Society Hall of Fame in April of 2011. Verna and Preston followed their dream in 1992 and moved from Navarro County to Brewster County Texas in the mountains of far West Texas and Big Bend National Park. They resided in Brewster County for 14 years, living in Alpine and on the Double Diamond Ranch Development South of Alpine. They were volunteers in Big Bend National Park where they helped to operate the Persimmon Gap Visitors Center for several seasons....exploring the park and welcoming visitors from around the world to the vast and beautiful area. Verna worked for the Alpine Public Library as a leader of the Friends of the Library, assistant Director of the Library and finally Director of the Alpine Public Library. During her tenure she led in the building of the Re-Reads Bookstore to sell used books and established on line sales of thousands of rare books donated to the Library to sell for the support of the Library and its work. Upon arriving in Alpine in 1992, Verna began actively gathering information on the Confederate Veterans and Civil War era of the region. Her work resulted in the compilation of two books on the history of these CSA veterans and the effects their lives had on the region. The title of these books are: Gray Ghosts of Far West Texas Volume I and II. Materials used for publication of these books-photos, articles, documents were donated to Sul Ross State University Archives in 2005 and can be viewed in the Verna Bonner Confederate Collection. In December of 2005, Verna and Preston moved back to Corsicana to be near family. Verna returned to her volunteer work at the Corsicana Public Library, the Navarro County Historical Society, and the Navarro County Genealogical Society. From 2006 to November of 2011, she was an Employee of the Corsicana Public Library on a part-time basis and supervised the operations of the Liz Gillispie Genealogy Department. Memorial services are to be held Saturday, July 12, 2014 11:00 A.M at the Northside Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Corsicana, Texas with Dr. Rick Lamb officiating.