BANGOR and ORRINGTON – Verna E. “Bonnie” Brooker, 83, passed away Friday, April 29, 2011, at a Bangor health care facility. Bonnie was born May 31, 1927, in St. Francis, the daughter of Charles and Minnie (Mills) Jones.
Bonnie graduated from Madawaska Training School, Fort Kent, in 1946. She was employed at Sears, Roebuck & Co. – first as a sales clerk, then eventually retiring as a department manager after 29 years of service. Bonnie was devoted to her family and her husband of 39 years, Matthew H. Brooker Sr. She loved cooking for family gatherings and her specialties were baked beans and scrumptious desserts. She enjoyed reading, crafts and traveling. In retirement, she and Matt traveled to Hawaii, Europe and the Grand Canyon. She was an active member of Essex Street Baptist Church and participated in Sunshine Class and missionaries at the church. Bonnie enjoyed the outdoors and she and Matt spent many summers in their camper traveling throughout Maine to fish from East Grand Lake, Jo-Mary and Moosehead. Bonnie had a zest for life and welcomed her many friends to her home with open arms and a cheery smile. She will be missed greatly by everyone who knew her.
In addition to her husband, Matt, who passed away February 2011, Bonnie was predeceased by her two infant sons from her first marriage, Randy and Scott Viles; and a brother, Harold Jones. She is survived by her beloved sister, Mary E. Gray of Orrington; sons, Brad Viles of Ellsworth, Matthew H. Brooker Jr. and wife, Diane, of Waterboro, James J. Brooker and wife, Suzanne, of Veazie and Michael P. Brooker and wife, Jennifer, of Bangor; 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and her many nieces and nephews. The family thanks all those at Dirigo Pines, Orono, as well as East Side Rehabilitation and Living Center, Bangor, for their loving care of our mother.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where a celebration of life service for Bonnie and Matt’s lives together will be held 1 p.m. Friday, May 6, with the Rev. Randall Wilbur, pastor of Essex Street Baptist Church, Bangor, officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, after the service. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.