Shirley Adrienne “Bonnie” Joyce Carlson Herndon, 77 years of age, of Florida, passed away on January 5, 2021 having been ill for several years. She was born March 7th, 1943 in Holdrege, NE and was the second youngest of 14 children of Mr. & Mrs. Harry Carlson.

Bonnie graduated from Holdrege High School in 1961, going on to Cosmetology School and getting her license in 1962. Following her education she moved to Omaha with her special niece, friend, and “sister” Jill Swanson Osborn. While working in the Credit Dept. at Lerner’s Shop, she moved to Minneapolis to become their Credit Manager at Lerner’s Shop. Missing the opportunity to drive to her parents on weekends, she moved back to Omaha where she was secretary to the Manager of Brandeis Distribution Center until her marriage to Fred.

Bonnie met her husband, Fred in Omaha where he was stationed in the Air Force. They were married at the First Presbyterian Church in 1969 when he returned from Thailand. They moved to Ellsworth AFB South Dakota, back to Offit Air Force Base in Omaha, Richards Gabour AFB in Kansas City, Gunter AFB in Montgomery, AL and Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL. After retiring in 1983, they moved to Orange Park, FL. She was very proud of her brothers and husband having served the military. Three of her brothers were on the U.S.S. Iowa battleship at the same time. Whenever they moved, Bonnie would always tell her children, Kim and Lonnie, that home is where we are as a family and moving was a new experience to embrace and make new friends. Bonnie’s children were most important in her life and she loved being a wife and mother and Grandma above all else.

Bonnie was an exceptionally creative woman and enjoyed sewing, making jewelry, making handcrafted cards and canning. Bonnie was also an avid gardener and started and managed a nursery business with plants, flowers and trees for many years. In her retirement, she enjoyed an active social life and played Bunco and Mah Jongg with her neighbors and did several Sudoku’s during the day.

On a weekly basis Bonnie volunteered at various hospitals and she loved meeting the patients and making sure they were being taken care of properly and while living in Tallahassee, she volunteered with Meals on Wheels. Bonnie especially enjoyed volunteering at BASCA (Baptist Assoc. for Special Children & Adults) in Orange Park, FL. where she helped with fundraising efforts with their Golf Tournaments and created custom jewelry for their annual auctions. She also attended Activities Class and Bowling with her son there.

One of Bonnie’s most special memories was when she accepted the Lord as her Savior when she was 7 years old in Minden, NE and her mother accepted the Lord at the same time. Bonnie shared her love for our Lord with her husband and children who continue to have a strong faith that is also passed on to her grandchildren. Bonnie was the most kind, understanding, loving and forgiving person and Mother, just as her own Mother had been. And she always remembered and lived by what her 4th grade teacher Mrs. Dunham told her which was, “To Thine Own Self Be True”.

Bonnie is preceded in death by her parents, Harry & Faris Carlson, her beloved son Lonnie Max Herndon, and 13 brothers and sisters: Winston Carlson, baby Paul, Fern L. Swanson, Stanley Carlson, Evelyn J. Bjorklund, Basil “Bud” Carlson, Deloris E Aman, Louis Lemonte Carlson, Neal J. Carlson, baby DeVona, Maxine “Micki” Anderson, Randy Max. Carlson, and Donald “Jack” Carlson.

She is survived by her husband, Fred Richard of Palm Coast, Florida; daughter, Kim LeaAnn Herndon Gits and her husband, Joe of Naperville, Illinois; grandchildren: Joey, Katie, Kristie, and Abby Anne who reside in Naperville; her only remaining cousins: JoAnn Goings of Alma; Jo Hickenbottom of Broken Bow; her brother-in-law, Dale Anderson of Holdrege; sister-in-law, Eleanor Rogers of Holbrook; and 18 special nieces and nephews as well as many great nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Shirley “Bonnie” Carlson Herndon will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Darren Theesen officiating.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is assisting the family with the arrangements.