Obituary

Bernice (Bonnie) Gertrude Marshall Ledray passed away peacefully with family by her side on February 4, 2020.

Bonnie was born on December 20, 1926 to Thomas Jefferson Marshall and Elizabeth Hilda (O’Leary) Marshall in Oakland, California.  She had two younger brothers, Leonard and Richard Marshall.

Bonnie grew up, as she proudly liked to say, “In the Bay Area”.  She was also proud to be third generation “California Girl”.  From the beginning she was a caring person as both her parents and her brother Leonard were hard of hearing.  She was their ears and their translator, and she recalls giving her parents the news that she heard on the family radio that Pearl Harbor had been attacked.

The family home was in Albany, California, but they temporarily moved to Oakland so that her brother Leonard could attend a special school or the deaf, and where Bonnie attended Saint Elizabeth’s High School.

As fate would have it, the attack on Pearl Harbor directly affected Bonnie’s destiny because the ship, the US Taskar Bliss, which was on its way to Corregidor, was fortunate to be able to turn around and return to San Francisco where two of the young servicemen on board, one being Bonnie’s cousin Don and his friend Vincent Ledray, came ashore while waiting for their next assignment and soon found themselves at the Marshall home.  Bonnie loves to tell the story of how Vince “Swept her off her feet!”.  They were married in 1945 in Long Beach, California after Vince returned safely home from flying thirty missions based out of England.  They Honeymooned in the Officer’s Quarters which were in a mansion in Long Beach.  They were married 59 years.  They had three daughters and one son.

After Vince was discharged from the Army, he took a job with the telephone company and they moved to Everett, WA, but soon realized that the grey, rainy and cool climate was no place for a California Girl.  They moved back to sunny San Fernando Valley but when smog began to smother the valley, they returned to the Pacific Northwest with their three daughters and a new appreciation for the Northwest’s cool, grey sea breezes.

Once the daughters were all in school, Bonnie continued with her education and in 1961 graduated top in her class at Everett Community College receiving “The Highest Woman Scholar Award” from the American Association of University women.  She landed a job as secretary for Senator Bargreen in Everett.  She was a typing star and a whiz at taking shorthand.  Unfortunately, Bonnie also used her shorthand skills to write “mysterious” notes and lists which could be found around the house and could never by deciphered by her curious daughters.

When Vincent transferred with the phone company to Lynden in 1966.  Bonnie enrolled at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA and graduated, “Cum Laude” with a degree in Business Education and Economics.  She taught Business Education at Lynden High School but after two years accepted the position of “Confidential Secretary” to the President at Whatcom Community College.  However, her career “highlight” was Executive Secretary to the President at Western Washington University.  She loved her job and working with the staff and faculty.  Bonnie was one of the original members of “The Breakfast Club” which was a group of WW University staff members who met faithfully every Saturday morning for many years for breakfast, friendship, and a few adventures which included a trip to Las Vegas.

Bonnie also worked for the Archives Department at WWU as Records Officer.  She retired officially from WWU in 1986 but went on to a consulting job for the State of Washington to develop The Records Management Manual and General Records Retention Schedule for Community Colleges, for which she received the Distinguished Service Award from Governor Booth Gardner and the Secretary of State.

Bonnie and Vince loved sail boating.  They were the proud owners of a 24’ boat, The Cygnet.  Bonnie and their son James were the brave crew and lived to tell the harrowing tales of how Captain Vince thrilled and terrorized them with his legendary no-nonsense “B-17 pilot flying skills” which he applied to the art of sailing.  Bonnie even joined a women’s sailing group and loved to tell the story about the time when the women needed to refer to the “Pilot Operating Handbook” for instructions as to how to get the boat to “come about”.  Their husbands were watching nervously from the yacht club bar as the women sailed safely back to the marina and of course they joined their husbands in the bar to celebrate their sailing adventure which is always the best part of sailing.

When Bonnie and Vince were both “officially” retired they used their time for “Snowbird Travels” in their notorious “5^th Wheel” to winter in Arizona, stopping in Nevada for a little gambling and garage sale treasures along the way.  They also cruised the Caribbean and traveled to Hong Kong with friends, but Hawaii was their favorite place to be when the sun went down.

Bonnie also traveled with her ‘grown up daughters’ to England, Scotland, and Wales, and around the USA with her daughters and great granddaughters, Amelia and Madeline, for the 401^st BG Reunions.  401^st was the Bomb Group that Vince was assigned to when he was stationed in England.  Bonnie was a much loved, member of the 401^st family and proudly represented Vince and shared the “Greatest Generation” history that she and Vince had experienced at the reunions.

When son James, “the only boy” was born, Bonnie and Vince put much love and energy in the “joy” of raising a boy which turned out to be much easier, to their relief, then raising three teenage daughters.  The fun of fishing trips, camping and a cabin in the Methow Valley, and trips to Canada with James and the hockey team enriched their lives.  Bonnie was a very strong role model for all her children and was always supportive, encouraging, and “there to listen” when needed.  “Go to college and get a good education” was her special mantra which she repeated often and truly believed to be a necessary tool for one’s life journey.  She and Vince lovingly provided extra care, support, and prayers for their special needs grandson and Bonnie was so proud to attend his graduation from Sehome High School.

Bonnie was always so grateful and proud of her family and gave thanks everyday that the family was so close together.  “I am fortunate! I love my family! We have a good family!” was her daily prayer.

Bonnie was a woman of courage, may accomplishments, and a woman of many prayers.  The Catholic Faith was her foundation upon which she built her life.  She was a member of The Church of the Assumption and Sacred Heart Church in Bellingham.  Some of the most favorite family stories are about how Bonnie never allowed the family to miss Sunday Mass or Holy Days of Obligation even if they were camping in the middle of “nowhere” requiring a long drive back to the closest church.

We were all so blessed to in Bonnie’s daily prayers and to be the part of her life which was most important to her — her family.  She will be dearly missed by her family and all who knew her but knowing that we will always be in her prayers brings us comfort.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and E. Hilda Marshall, her brother Richard and Leonard Marshall and her husband Vincent L. Ledray.

She is survived by her daughters Cathie Ledray-Senff (Tony) of La Conner, WA, Sue Murray (Larry), Vicki Grabicki (Jim), and son James Ledray (Bonny) all of Bellingham, WA; her grandchildren, Shelley Ledray Northern (Tim) of Spokane, WA, and Aimee Cantrell (Chris) of Lynden, WA, Brett Murray (Jill) and Christopher Ledray of Bellingham, WA; her eight great-grandchildren, Amelia, Ellie, and Charles Northern of Spokane, WA,  Madeline Weir, Aubrey and Olivia Cantrell of Lynden, WA, and Landon and Celia Murray of Bellingham, WA.

Bonnie’s family thanks the Silverado Staff for their loving and patient care and support of Bonnie during the last 2 years of her life journey.

A Memorial Mass will be Friday February 21, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (1110 14th St. Bellingham, WA 98225), with reception following.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dementia Support Northwest, Bellingham or a charity of your choice.