Edgar Bonnett

On the morning of February 14th, 2024, Edgar (Ed) Bonnett passed away peacefully in Tyler, TX. Surrounded by his family, he entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as they sang, prayed, and told him how much he was loved and how much he would be missed. He was 88 years old.

Ed Bonnett was born July 21st, 1935, on a houseboat on the Boeuf River in Oak Grove, Louisiana. He was the third child of Lloyd and Elvina Bonnett.

He grew up on the river until the age of six when his father built them a house. In a recent written account of his life, Ed described himself as his father’s shadow. He learned from an early age how to fish, construct nets, make shingles, weigh and sell fish, and he became a jack of all trades. Like his father before him, Ed was known for the creative inventions he designed to assist him with his work and keep the house functioning. In Ed’s own words, “I guess the reason I am that way is that is how I was brought up. If something broke, you didn’t go buy a new one. You fixed it!” While he learned many useful things from his father, he credits his work ethic to his mother who always worked so hard to take care of their family.

Ed lived through World War II and saw four of his uncles go off to war. His family worked hard to survive amidst the many shortages and hardships of the times. Ed described himself as a quiet teenager who loved to “fish, hunt, and ride his pet bull.” As he neared the last years of high school, he was not interested in college. His mama said that was ok, but he was “durn sure” going to finish high school!

His whole life changed in 1954 at the age of 19 when he spied a pretty girl named Virginia Pass at the Prince’s Drive In. At first, she gave him the cold shoulder, but they were drawn to each other. Later, when he saw her skate into an entire bench of people and take out a picket fence at the local skating rink, he knew he had to take her on a date! It only took a month to know he was going to marry her and the wedding was held on January 1st, 1955, only six weeks from their first date! When asked about how it all happened, Ed stated, “If you love somebody, it don’t have to be a cloud burst. You just fall into it and start talking about it and one thing leads to another and you realize that this is what you want to do.”

In 1958, Ed joined the Air Force and was eventually stationed in Wichita Falls as an aircraft mechanic. He said of his time in the Airforce that it helped him to “take instructions and demanded discipline” while it also “helped him mature as a person.” His military service ended in 1964.

Ed and Virginia were blessed with their children Jerri Lynne in 1959 and James Russell in 1961. Ed was incredibly proud of both his children.

Ed and Virginia made Houston their home and built their first house in Ralston Acres on Nodding Pines in 1964. They built a life in that house and stayed in the Sheldon community for 30 years where the neighbors became like family.

Ed and Virginia both worked for the Sheldon Independent School District for 25 years before they retired in 1994. Ed served as the Director of Transportation & Maintenance and was known as a much beloved boss. As he always did, he made lifelong friends there and was respected and admired for his no-nonsense work ethic and the honesty and pride he showed in his work.

Faith was a defining factor in Ed’s life, but he would also acknowledge that wasn’t always the case. In 1985, his wife, Virginia, began attending Lakewood Church in Houston, TX and Ed noticed a change in her. At first, Ed resisted even the thought of going there, never knowing that Virginia and some of her friends saved him a seat every Sunday hoping he would change his mind. He tentatively showed up one Sunday and kept going. A few visits later when the preacher gave the altar call, he went up and accepted the Lord. He said, “It was a powerful moment in my life, that if the pastor had called on me to say something I would have because I was so overjoyed on that day…and you know I don’t like to speak in public! I had a craving for the word of God from that day on.” The way Jesus Christ changed his life that day, and in the years that followed, was a testimony to the promise of God’s willingness to transform every one of us into a new person. No one who knew Ed could miss how remarkable that change really was. He went on to lead many of his friends to faith in Christ.

Ed and Virginia would continue to attend Lakewood Church from 1985 to 1994 and loved serving as prayer partners. Ed credits Lakewood with helping to make his faith stronger.

In 1994, Ed and Virginia retired to their beloved farm in East Texas. He got to spend many years baling hay, gardening, taking care of his cows, fixing and building fences, and working in his shop. He loved every minute that he got to work with his son on farming projects and later his grandchildren. He spent a lot of time instructing them in the right way to do things, his way!

Ed loved and appreciated his wife, Virginia of 69 years. He took joy in seeing his children grow up to be good people with loving families who value their relationship with God. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He served as a deacon in his local church and enjoyed the deep friendships that he developed through the years. At family gatherings he would often say, “I am a blessed man. I have gotten to live my dream.”

Ed is survived by his wife, Virginia; children, Jerri (Ron) Jones, James Russell “Rusty” (Lisa) Bonnett and grandchildren, Erin (Matt) Moore, Caleb (Kasey) Jones, Joy Scott, Joshua (Rebecca) Jones, and Taylor Bonnett. He is also survived by his brother, Bobby (Marilyn) Bonnett, his niece, Pansy Tinkle, and his nephew, Brycen Bonnett. Others that he loved and considered family were Kim (Mike) Beckham and Kyle Jones. He is preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Arnold Bonnett, his mother Elvina Bonnett, his sister Eunice Cloud, and his brother, Pete Bonnett.

Ed adored and was so very proud of all 11 of his great grandchildren: Emma, Ella, Will, Beric, Charlie, Dallas, Zane, Jeremiah, Rachel, Abigail, and Mary.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. Visitation for the public will be at 10:00am. Services will be at 11:00am. with burial to follow at County Line Cemetery at 12138 FM 1971, Timpson, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to County Line Cemetery, 3260 South U. S. Hwy. 79, Carthage, TX 75633